THE 


MOUNTAIN  MUSE. 


THE 


MOUNTAIN     MUSE, 


COMPRISING 

THE   ADVENTURES 

OF 

DANIEL    BOONEi 

AND 

THE  POWER 
of 

VIRTUOUS  AND  REFINED  BEAUTT. 

BY  DANIEL  BRYAN. 

9F   RQCKIXGHAU    COUNTr,    VIRGINIA. 

HARRISONBURG  : 

Printed  for  the  Author  : 

BY  DAVIDSON  &c  BOURNE. 

1S13. 


District  of  Virginia  to  wit  j 

,JJE  IT  REMEMBERED,  That  on  the  eleventh  day  of 
September,  in  the  thirty  eighth  year  of  the  Independence 
of  the  United  States  of  America,  DANIEL  BRYAN  of 
the  said  district,  hath  deposited  in  this  Office^  the  title 
of  a  book,  the  right  whereof  he  claims  as  Author,  in 
the  words  following,  to  tail  : 

"  The  Mountain  Muse  :  comprising  the  Adventures 
of  Daniel  Boone ;  and  the  power  of  virtuous  and 
refined  Beauty.  By  Daniel  Bryan,  of  Rockingham 
County,  Virginia." 

In  Conformity  (o  the  Act  of  the  Congress  of  the 
United  States,  entituled,  tl  An  act  for  the  encourage 
ment  of  learning,  by  securing  the  copies  of  maps, 
charts  and  books,  to  the  Authors  and  Proprietors  of 
such  copies,  during  the  times  therein  mentioned."  And 
also  to  an  act,  entituled,  "An  act  supplementary  to 
an  act,  entituled,  "  An  act  for  the  encouragement  of 
learning,  by  securing  the  copies  of  maps,  charts  and 
books,  to  the  Authors  and  Proprietors  of  such  copies, 
during  the  times  therein  mentioned.  And  extending 
the  benefits  thereof  to  the  arts  of  designing,  engraving, 
mnd  etching  historical  and  other  prints." 

WILLIAM  MARSHAL, 
Clerk  of  the  District  of 


PREFACE. 


T, 


HE  world  of  Man  is  a  mixture  of  con 
trarieties.     The  source  of  his  sweetest  enjoy 
ments   is  often   the    fountain   of  his  bitterest 
anguish.     Like  the  drops  of  the  weeping  cloud, 
illumed  with  the  momentary  bursts  of  radience 
which  gleam  from  the  sun,  as  he  breaks  thro' 
his  floating  veil;    the   tears  of  woe  and   mel 
ancholy    often    sparkle     in   the   smiles   of  the 
same   countenance.     Those  avocations  and  a- 
musemenis   which    grasp   the  energies,  absorb 
the  reflections,  animate  the  Fancy,  and  electrify 
with  vivid  raptures  and    inextinguishable  fas- 
cination,   the   spirits   of  one   man,  awaken  no 
extacy,  no  pleasure   in  the  bosom,  but  excite 
the   contempt,   or  kindle  the  hatred  of  another. 
Perhaps  this  unition  of  extremes  in  the  same 
,  person,  and  incongruity  of  dispositions  in  dif 
ferent  persons,  are  not  any  where  so  strikingly 
evinced,  as  among  the  votaries  of  the    poetic 
Muse,   and   between  them   and  the    insensate 
drudges  of  avaricious  cupidity.  What  pictures  of 
2 

186330 


PREFACE. 

mingled  light  and  gloom  we  behold  delineated 
by  the  pencil  of  D'  Israeli !  The  mere  enumera 
tion  of  their  names  would  fill  a  page.  Let  the 
case  of  Collins  exemplify  the  fact  of  the  most 
exquisite  happiness  and  misery  flowing  from 
the  same  source.  His  heart  was  alive  to  every 
delicate  preception  of  joy  or  sorrow.  Its  chords 
responded  to  every  vibration  of  the  Muse's 
Lyre.  In  the  days  of  his  juvenility,  they  were 
constantly  thrill'd  with  the  delicious  breathings 
of  Hope.  In  those  of  his  maturity,  they  trembled 
between  the  alternate  touches  of  transport  and 
despondency.  But,  in  the  dark  period  of  his 
premature  decline,  they  were  tortured  with  the 
agonizing  shrieks  of  phrenzy,  and  the  sullen 
moans  of  Despair  ;  until  they  bled  and  broke  ! 
Yet  even  in  the  moments  of  his  keenest  suf 
ferings,  his  delirious  Muse  could  throw  spells 
of  wild  delight  across  his  frantic  mind.  For 
even  then  her  song  was  sweetest  melody ; 
and  her  influence,  as  it  had  been  through  all 
his  life,  irrcsLtable  !  The  more  he  endeavor'd 
to  ily  from  her,  the  closer  she  pursued  him, 
and  the  more  deeply  he  became  enamor'd  with 


PREFACE. 

.he  magic  of  her  strains.  Thus  too,  it  happens, 
with  those  who  are  less  gifted  with  the  divinity 
of  Genius  than  was  the  seraphic  Collins.  The 
\uthor  of  the  feeble"  effusions  which  compose 
this  Volume,  without  presuming  to  intimate, 
3r  daring  to  believe  that  he  possesses  a  spark 
of  that  Miltonip  fire  which  burns  in  the  pages 
of  loftiest  Verse,  is  compel'd  to  say,  that  he 
has  experienced  the  counter  operations  of  that 
diversity  of  emotion,  which  is  so  characteristic 
of  those  who  worship  at  the  shrine  of  the 
Muses.  He  has  reveled  on  the  pleasures  of 
an  employment,  which,  while  it  was  too  alluring 
for  him  to  resist,  was,  he  seriously  apprehended, 
and  still  fears,  disseminating  for  him  the  seeds 
of  a  Harvest  of  Penury  and  Melancholy.  Why, 
it  has  been  frequently  ask'd  him,  does  he  con 
tinue  to  disregard  these  salutary  premonitions 
of  his  deliberate  judgment  ?  As  well  might 
it  be  ask'd,  why  does  the  heedless  Candle  Fly, 
which  has  already  scorch'd  its  wings  in  the 
ilame,  still  flutter  around  it  until  it  perishes? 
The  Author  found  himself  sliding  into  the 
delusive  regions  of  Fancy,  and  had  neither 


PREFACE. 

that  a  person  in  his  circumstances  should 
suspend  his  preparations  for  a  profitable  pro 
fession,  to  engage  in  the  proverbially  unfruitful 
employment  of  the  Muse. 

When  he  was  first  prevailed  upon  to  add 
his  name  to  the  list  of  Literary  Adventurers, 
it  was  his  intention  to  form  a  Volume  from 
the  miscellaneous  scraps  of  his  juvenile  Rhy 
ming  ;  with  the  addition  of  a  piece  upon  each 
of  the  subjects  mentioned  in  his  proposals. 
But  after  commencing  "  Boone's  Adventures," 
he  soon  found  that  it  would  be  impossible 
to  do  any  thing  like  justice  to  that  subject 
without  giving  to  it  a  much  greater  extension 
than  was  at  first  contemplated.  Upon  this  course 
therefore,  in  consonance  with  the  suggestions  of 
his  own  judgment,  and  the  persuasions  of 
his  friends,  he  determined.  He  thought  it 
most  advisable  too,  to  interweave  with  the 
History  of  Boone  the  narrative  of  the  "Allegany 
Robbers  and  Lost  Maid."  From  the  extent 
therefore,  to  which  these  subjects  have  been 
amplified,  it  has  become  necessary  to  omit  the 
insertion  of  all  the  others  of  minor  magnitude, 
except  that  with  which  the  Volume  concludes. 


PREFACE. 

As  to  the  organization  and  style  of  these 
poems,  the  Author  has  nothing  to  observe. 
Their  merit  must  be  tested  in  the  crucible 
of  discriminative  Taste  and  cultivated  Intellect. 
To  the  decisions  of  these,  and  these  only, 
he  will  bow  with  submissive  deference. 

To  those  persons,  who  have  kindly  con 
tributed  their  exertions  to  promote  the  diffusion 
and  prosperity  of  his  humble  productions,  he 
cannot  refuse  himself  the  pleasure,  of  here 
tendering  the  ardent  homage  of  a  sincerely 
grateful  heart.  Nor  can  he  conclude  without 
indulging  himself  in  the  happiness  of  declaring, 
that  he  views  in  the  generous  smiles  of  their 
encouragement  in  his  own  case,  that  laudable 
spirit  of  national  emulation,  and  that  zeal  for  the 
expansion  of  literary  glory  in  this  prosperous 
Republic,  which,  from  the  amplitude  of  their 
operations,  must  embrace,  cherish  and  in 
vigorate,  all  the  branches  that  bloom  on  the 
flourishing  Stock  of  American  Science. 

HARRISONBURG, 
November  4th,  1813. 


ARGUMENT. 

IMMEDIATELY  subsequent  to  the  transformation 
of  Chaos  into  order,  and  previous  to  the  creation  of 
light,  the  Angels  ivho  superintend  terrestrial  affairs 
assume  their  stations  ;  1  to  47.  Tempests,  '•  Tornados., 
Conflagrations,  Earthquakes,  Pestilence,  War  and  Re 
volutions,  flow  from  their  invisible  agency  ;  48  to  74. 
Newton,  Herschel,  Locke,  and  Reid  were  illumined  by 
their  infusions  ;  76  to  93.  Devotion  is  enkindled,  and 
Infidelity  intimidated  by  their  inspiration  ;  94  to  114. 
Statesmen  are  embued  with  patriotism,  and  Mariners 
with  intrepidity  by  the  interposition  of  the  celestial 
Hosts,  to  whom  the  general  direction  of  sublunary  e- 
vcnts  is  committed',  115  to  155.  Satanic  delusion  is 
more  potent  than  Angelic  instructions,  in  consequence 
of  human  Depravity  ;  156  to  185,  Upon  important 
events  the  Guardian  Spirits  hold  solemn  consultations  ; 
186  to  192.  A  FIRMAMENTAL  HALL  erected  on  the 
summit  of  Alltgany  ;  193  to  287.  The  Seraphs  as 
semble,  and  commence  their  deliberations  with  prayer  ; 
28*8  to  304.  TRUTH  addresses  them;  305  to  409. 
HUMANITY  declares  his  opinions;  421  to  516.  ZEAL 
speaks  ;  527  to  792.  ENTERPRISE  proposes  to  delegate 
DANIEL  BOONE  for  the  exploration  and  settlement  of 
Kentucky  ;  796  to  893 — Of  which  the  Council  unani 
mously  approve,  and  commend  him  to  that  Seraph's 
PROTECTION  ;  894  to  900.  Having  resounded  the  praise 
of  God  ;  901  to  909— RELIGION  implores  the  divine, 
blessing  ;  910  fo925  .  The  Assembly  is  dissolved) 
and  the  Seraphs  return  to  their  appointed  spheres. 


THE 
ADVENTURES 


OF 


DANIEL  BOt).\E. 


BOOK.  I. 


WHEN  first  their  dark  and  yet  untravel'd    rounds 

Through  the  inane  expanse  of  pristine  Night, 

The  planetary  conglobatious  roll'd ; 

Before  the  GREAT  ETERNAL'S  sacred  eye, 

Upon  the  gloom  of  the  sidereal  orbs,  5 

Their  pure-beam'd,  time-enduring    splendors  flash'd  ; 

Ere  on  Attraction's  mystic  centre  pois'd 

By  the  Almighty's  sun  creating  hand, 

The  blazing  ball  that  lights  our  solar  sphere, 

From  the  ecliptic^zone  his  radiance  pour'd  ;  1(5 

When  from  their  chrystal  palaces  in  Heaven's 

Unmeasur'd  heights  of  bright  and  cloudless  day, 

Th'  Angelic  Spirits  view'd  Creation's  God, 

Ale 


long  th'unresisting  void    of  space, 
In  numberless  succession,  roiling  worlds ; 
From  their  celestial  ranks  they  bade  descend, 


15 


1.6  BOONE'S 

To  rule  the  vast  machinery  of  the  globes, 

Supernal  hosts  with  holy  power  endued. 

With  joy,  obedient  to  the  kind  behest  ; 

In  robes  of  interwoven  light  array 'd,  20 

The  delegated  phalanx,  darting  through 

The  rayless  deeps  qf  uncreated  Night 

A  keen  pervasive  glance,  their  snow-white  vans 

Outspread  ;  and  from  th'empyreal  battlement's 

Gold-spangled  summits,  down  th'untravers'd  void       25 

T'assume  their  stations  on  the  new  made  spheres 

Descended,  wide  diverging   as  they  sail'd. 

So  on  tenebrious  midnight's  welkin  glooms, 

Disparting  balls  electrical  explode 

Their  streaming  splendors ;  and  the  moonless   Heavens 

With  bright  but  evanescent  paths  illume.  31 

In  numerous  points  of  the  expansive  bounds 
Through  which  conglobate  matter  rolls,  their  posts 
The  Seraph  Guardians  take  :  their  several  tasks 
As  multifarious,  as  remote  the  climes  35 

They  occupy.     To  some  it  is  assign'd, 
From  headlong  violence  with  care  to  guard 
The  bold  career  of  flying  worlds  ;  to  curb 
Th'impetuous  speed  of  wild  Projection's  flight, 
And  Gravitation's  centripetal    force  40 

Restrain  ;  these   powers  conjoin'd  to  harmonize, 
And  through  th'elliptic  orbits  make  them  wheel 
The  circumvolving  spheres.     To  some,  the  Winds, 
And  Seas,  and  Elements,  embowel'd  deep 


ADVENTURES.  17 

Iti  Earth's  dark-winding  caves,  'tis  given  to  rule.      45 
They  are  the  Agents  of  th'  Almighty's  wrath, 
And  they  on  man  His  benedictions  shed. 
When  Ocean's  tides  in  foaming  conflicts  roar, 
And  from  their  massy-heaving  billows  dash  49 

The  crashing   Ships,  and  guzzling  whirlpools  whelm. 
The  shatter'd  wrecks — When  swift  Tornados  sweep 
The  suffering'  land,  demolish  loftiest  domes, 
And  from  their  heights  the  roaring  forests  hurl — 
When  Flames,  from  house  to  house,  from  street  to  street, 
Infuriate,  wasteful  !  spread  their  blazing  wings,       55 
And  into  ashes  sink  a  Kingdom's  pride- 
When  from  their  burning  bases,  mountains  burst, 
And  dreadful  Earthquakes  tear  the  yawning   globe- 
When  Pestilence  his  miasmatic  breath 
Diffuses  o'er  the  land,  and  on  the  lungs  60 

Of  pallid  millions  putrefaction  pours— 
When  these  tremendous  scenes  on  nature's  stage 
Our  God  displays  ;  'tis  through  the  agency 
Of  those  seraphic  Guardians  of  the  world. 

But  not  to  matter  only  is  con  fin 'd  65 

Their  superintending  care  and  awful  sway. 
As  ministers  of  God's  mysterious  laws, 
They  fan  the  patriot  passions  into  flame  ; 
Bid    War  his  gorgon  crest  erect,  and  roll 
His  gory  Chariots  o'er  th'  ensanguined  fields ;         7f> 
Bid  Monarchs  die,  and  tottering  Kingdoms  fall ; 
On  Re-volutions,  Revolutions  rise  ; 


18  BOONE'S 

And  conquering  Freedom  build  on  crumbling  bones 
Of  slaughter'd  Tyranny,  her  hallow'd   fanes  ! 

Th'  unexplor'd  recess  of  Nature's  deeps  75 

They  bid  th'  adventurous  sons  of  science  sound  ; 
Her  darksome  seas,  her  mazes  wild,  disclose, 
Where  scarce  the  sun's  refracted  beams  e'er  pierc'd, 
Or  fervid  Fancy's  eagle  vision  glanc'd. 
On  glorious  Newton's  science-scaling  soul,  80 

They  pour'd  the  flame  of  Astronomic  zeal ; 
And  bound  to  Herschel's  telescopic  mind 
That  wing  of  sunbeam-speed, and  Angel-strength  ; 
Which  bore  it  like  a   comet  through  the  Heavens, 
To  where  nine  hundred  million  miles  beyond          8 
Cold  Saturn's  orb,  the  Georgium-Sidus  rolls  ! 

To  Locke  and  Reid  they  gave  th'  ingenious  skill 
T '  unfold  the  labyrinthian  web  of  mind  ; 
To  teach  us  how  the  variegated  weft 
In  different  parts,  peculiar  tints  assumes ;  90 

How  light  runs  into  shade,  and  shade  to  light, 
Untill  in  mingled  hues,  the  changeful  whole 
A  beauteous  intellectual  landscape  forms. 
With  sacred  ardor,  they,  those  minds  endue, 
Whose  fame  for  piety  and  wisdom,  shed 
Unfading  glory  on  the  favor'd  age 
In  which  they  live.     They  kindle  on  the  tongues 
Of  God's  devout  Ambassadors  the  flames 
Of  melting  eloquence  ;  with  tender  zeal 
Their  hearts  inspire  ;   with  kind  persuasion  fill      100 


ADVENTURES.  19 

Their  placid  eyes  ;  and  with  seraphic  grace 

Their  fervid  action  clothe  ;  untill  portray'd 

fn  prospect  bright,  on  every  feeling  mind, 

The  bliss  of  Heaven  enraptures  and  sublimes. 

And  if  obdurate  INFIDELITY  105 

His  flinty  ramparts  round  the  heart  should  raise, 

And  bar  the  soft  emotions  out;  empower'd 

By  their  inspiring  Guardians'  potent  aid, 

[n  pure  and  dread  solemnity  enshrin'd ; 

The  sinner-shaking  bolt  of  Gospel  law,  110 

Truth-aim'd  against  th'opposing  walls,  they  hurl  ; 

'Till  down  the  rotten-pi llar'd  masses   sink 

And  ope  the  avenues,  to  where   expos'd 

On  Hell's  black  verge,  the  cold  affections  sleep  !      114 

The  ardent  Statesman's  breast  with  patriot  love 
Those  sacred  Spirits  swell  ;  his  toil  intense 
Assist ;  while  he  with  sleepless  eye  explores 
Politic  tomes  of  elder  years,  and  turns 
Attentive  o'er  the  crumbling    page  of  time  ; 
While  he  in  midnight  silence  meditates  120 

Or*  Empires  buried  in  the  grave  of  years  ; 
How  they  from  sickly  infancy  arose 
To  proud  Colossal  strength  :  and  how  they  thence 
Descended  down  Destruction's  dangerous  steeps, 
Till  prematurely  sunk  in  Ruin's  gulphs  125 

They  rise  no  more — what  causes  gave  their  day 
Of  prosperous  grandeur,  spread  their  features  o'er 
With  Freedom,  Gladness,  Health  and  virtuous  Smiles  j 


20  BOONE'S 

Or  what  their  sunny  brightness  overcast 

With  baneful  blackness,  the  foundations  min'd        13tf 

Which  prop'd  their  fame — what  canker'd  all  their  hopes, 

And  tumbled  their  proud  Monuments  in  dust. 

The  daring  Mariner's  intrepid  soul 

With  the  bold  zeal  of  glorious  Enterprise 

And  venturous  Emulation,  they  inflame  :  135 

Through  freezing  seas  his  frightful  passage  steer, 

Direct  him  how  the   icy  shoals  t'escape, 

And  where  to  find   the  long-sought  savage  shore. 

They  bid  him  fearless,  tread  the   desert  wild, 

And  undismay'd,  its  tawny  tenants  meet;  140 

Their  blood-fed  fierceness  gently  turn  aside, 

And  by  familiar  smiles  their  kindness  win. 

As  man,  refin'd  adventurous  man  appears, 

They  bid  the  cheerless  forest-glooms    disperse, 

And  o'er  the  wastes  the  polish'd  ARTS  extend.     1  45 

The  life-exterminating  Beasts  are  slain, 

The  merciless  arm  of  savage   rage  is  bound 

In  Law's  corrective  pale,  and  Pain,  and  Blood, 

And  Plunder  cease. 

Thus  from  Creation's  hour,   150 
In  every  province  of  our  planet  Earth — 
Throughout  the  mighty  bounds  of  Universe, 
In  all  the  various  spheres  which  appertain 
To  matter  and  to  mind,  Angelic  power 
Has  exercis'd  a  superintending  rule.  155 

But  iince  from  Hell  the  poisonous  breath  of  SIN 


ADVENTURES.  2[ 


1'irst  tainted  an  apostatizing  world 

Th'  infernal  FOE  of  man's  felicity 

Has  ever  envious  opposition  made 

To  all  that  purpos'd  good  to  him  on  earth,  160 

Or  in  his  future  life — has  station'd  thick 

Through  every  province  of  the  peopled  globe, 

I  [is  Hell-train'd  swarms  of  evil-working  fiends, 

Who  keep  uninterrupted  watch  for  means 

I'D  counteract  the  power  of  Angel-zeal  165 

On  man  :  \vho  hold  or  turn  in  Satan's  paths 

His  blundering  steps,  and  mail  in  horrid  scales 

Kis  clouded  eyes  ;  oft  too  deriving  aid 

From  man's  own  will,  their  hellish  schemes  succeed: 

And  they  the  conflict  oft  long-while  maintain        17O 

E'en  when  defeat  at  length  their  efforts  ends. 

For  man  in  cases  which  affect  his  doom 

When  brought  before  the  Great  Eternal  Judge, 

Th'  advice  which  Angel  intimations  give 

Has  always  power  to  follow  or  reject.  175 

In  clogging  with  embarrassments  the  plans 

Which  Man's  seraphic  Monitors  devise 

T'effect  his  melioration,  Hell's  grim  King 

And  goblin  minions  feel  malignant  joy. 

But  notwithstanding  all  the  stygian  realm  180 

Disgorge  on  Earth  its  legions,  to  oppose 

The  Guardian  Seraphs  ;  yet  when  not  withstood 

By  man's  own  will,  in  matters  which  pertain 

To  his  immortal  state,  the  sacred  hosts 


22  BOONE'S 

The  prize  of  glorious  victory  always  win.  185 

When  subjects  of  momentous  weight   arise, 
When  great  occasions  claim  their  righteous  aidj 
And  vast  extensive  interests  are  involv'd  ; 
Those  superintending  Spirits  then  are  wont 
In  great  and  solemn  council  to  convene,  190 

And  consultation  hold  on  all  the  points 
Which  to  the  grand  concernment  appertain. 
'Twas  thus  the  immortal  Spirits  who  preside 
O'er  the  vast  regions  of  the  WESTERN  WILD, 
In  grand  assemblage  met ;  when  call'd  to  weigh  195 
Th'  important  interests  which  its  cause  involv'd. 

When  nought  but  Beasts  and  bloody  Indians  dwelt 
Throughout  the  mighty  waste,  and  Cruelty 
And  Death  and  Superstition  triple-leagued, 
Held  there  their  horrid  reign,  and  impious  sway  ;   200 
The  Guardian  Seraphs  of  benign  REFORM 
With  keen  prophetic  glance  the  worth  beheld 
Of  the  immense  expanse,  its  future  fame, 
Its  ponderous  moment  in  the  golden  scales 
Of  Freedom,  Science,  and  Religious  Truth  ,  20.5 

When  by  Refinement's  civilizing  hand 
Its  roughnesses  should  all  be  smooth'd  aws 
With  zeal  the  animating  prospect  fir'd 
The  glowing  Guardians,  fili'd  with  views  sublime     209 
Their  lofty  minds,  their  enterprising  powers  awak'd, 
And  urged  them  to  this  laudable  resolve — 
That  o'er  Columbia's  Western  Wilderness, 


ADVENTURES.  2*3 

Politic  Wisdom  should  her  reign  extend 
And  Emigration  pour  her  splendid  swarms. 

With  ease,  their  glorious  purpose  to  achieve,  215 
And  spare  excessive  waste  of  human  blood  ; 
Those  sacred  friends  of  Culture's  spreading  power 
And  humanizing  energy,  announced 
To  all  the  station'd  Seraphs  who  preside 
O'er  the  benighted  WEST,  their, high  design  ;       220 
And  summons  gave  them  quickly  to  convene 
In  their  aerial  Courts.     Meanwhile  command 
Was  given  th'  ethereal  Guardians  to  prepare, 
High  o'er  the  Alleganean  Mountain-Heights, 
For  the  Divan,  a    FIRMAMENTAL  HALL.  23£ 

Anon,  obedient  to  the  high  behest, 
The  mighty  Spirit  of  the  welkin  deeps 
Bade  convoluted  winds,  with  furious  flight 
And  curvilinear  sweep,  encompass  all 
The  Atmospheric  bounds  ;  and  dash  and  roll         230 
To  the  appointed  place  of  Rendezvous, 
With  all  their  fulminating  Magazines, 
Th'  encircled  Regiments  of  mingled  clouds  ! 
The  gloomy  Vast,  impetuous  bowlings  pierce;      234 
The  Northern  Gates,  tempestuous  Whirlwinds  burst ; 
And  Mountain-Caverns  wide-expanded,  vent 
Their  hissing  blasts.     Against  impinging  clouds, 
With  driving  strength,  th' encircling  Tempests   rush 
And  from  their  boundary's  wide  circumference  roll 
Converging,  the  dark  billowy-mixing  mass,  24€> 


24  BOOKE'S 

From  cloud  to  cloud,  in  blazing  torrents  stream 

Th'  avvaken'd  fires  electric  :  flashing  flames 

In  forky  grandeur,  with  ethereal  light, 

Projected  peaks  of  rolling  vapour  crown  ; 

And  all  the  nubilous  involutions  paint  245 

With  intermitting  Lightning's  vivid  tints  : 

While  glancing  scintillations  spangle  thick 

With  dancing  lustre  all  the  clouded  gloom ; 

And  Angry  Meteors,  flaming  as  thy  fly, 

With  burning  paths  their  ragged  way  emblaze.     250 

From  ridge  to  ridge  of  the  big  Mountain-Mass, 

Dark  sullen  Thunders  by  the  conflicts   wak'd, 

Their  sky-convulsing  detonations  pour. 

Their  destin'd  point,  th'embattled  volumes  reach  ; 

And  rest.     The  grand,  the  wonderous  Edifice,       255 

The  great  th'ethereal  Architect  begins. 

Wide  over  Allegany's  summit  spread, 

Of  close  impacted,  squared  and  polish'd  clouds 

Constructed,  the  extended  base  appears ; 

And  of  the  same  compressed  material  form'd,        260 

Octagonal  the  burnish'd  walls  ascend, 

Sublimely  towering  through  the  midway  skies ! 

Broad  sheets  of  lightning  constitute  the  roof, 

Whose  flashing  splendors  flood  with  day  the  Heavens, 

When  Night  spreads  o'er  the  sun  her  darkling  wings. 

Reflected  from  the  Fabric's  upright  squares,          266 

Prismatic  tinctures  paint  the  fragment-clouds, 

Which  float  unused  in  widening  fleeces  round 


ADVENTUHSS.  25 

Its  myriad  windows  and  its  thousand  gates 

V'"ere  all  of  pure  translucent  ether  wrought,  270 

^nd  all  with  bright  festoons  superbly  hung 

Of  pansied  clouds,  and  wreathed  lightnings  made. 

B^th   North  and  South  of  the  maguific  dome, 

Iii  grand  Corinthian  style  and  towering  state, 

On  Meteor-Pillars  rear'd,  refulgent  shone  275 

Its  roomy  porticos.     Innumerous  seats, 

Of  downy  clouds  composed,  and  white  and  soft 

As  Cygnet  plumes,  in  graceful  circles  ranged; 

Around  th'mterior  of  the  shining  hall, 

All  ready  for  the  Angel  host  appear'd. 

A   canopy  ot'  Rainbows  intertwined 

In  spiral  union,  forming  in  the  whole, 

A  beauteous  arch  of  intermingled  hues 

As   rich  as  Fancy's  pencil  can  portray  ; 

And  variegated  as  the  tints  of  light  285 

In  all  their  gayly  blended  forms  can  be, 

High  o'er  each  line  of  dazzling  sofas  bends. 

The  glorious  edifice  in  all  its  parts 
Consummate,  the  seraphic  Guardians  lift 
Their  snow-white  pinions  on  the  cloudless  air,      290 
A: id  reach  the  gorgeous  gates.     In  robes  attired 
Of  purple  ether,  the  Majestic  Spirit 
Oi  clouds  and  storms,  with  Angel  courtesy 
Th 'enraptured  Host  address'd,  and  mildly  ask'd 
Fiom  their  united  souls  a  prayer  devout,  395 

li  That  Heaven's  benedictions  might  descend, 
C 


26  •  BOONE S 

*   * 

And  consecrate  the  new-erected  Fane." 
The  courtesy  with  sweet  benignant  grace 
They  all  return'd,  and  humbly  breathed  to  God 
Their  pious  supplication.     This  perform'd,  SCO 

In  majesty  sublime,  with  sacred  air 
And  lofty  mien,  the  solemn-musing  host 
Ingression  made,  and  as  they  advanced,  assumed 
Their  plume-soft  seats.     Awhile,  in  silence  deep 
They  sat  till  TRUTH'S  complacent  Angel  rose,     305 
And  in  perspicuous  style,  at  large  disclosed, 
The  causes  multifarious,  which  conspired 
T'enlist  with  animated  zeal  their  powers 
In  prosecution  of  the  glorious  finrl, 
For  which  they  were  in  solemn  synod  call'd.         310 
The  pure-eyed  Seraph  thus  his  feelings  spake- — 
"  Immortal  Guardians  of  this  Western  World  ! 
Your  wisdom  now  a  mighty  theme  demands  1 
Let  all  the  beams  of  bright  Divinity, 
Which  to  your  minds  illumination  gives, 
And  sanctifies  your  pure  and  spotless  hearts, 
Now  on  your  mental  vision  clearly  shine ; 
Till  its  keen  glances  every  point  explore 
Of  the  immense  concern  that  brings  us  here. 
The  Almighty's  glory  and  his  creature's  weal,     320 
Which  moved  his  holy  power  this  well-plan'd  globe? 
And  all  that  is  to  form,  have  ne'er  attaiu'd 
In  the  uncultured  regions  of  the   West 
The  splendid  elevation  HE  design'd. 


ADVENTURES.  27 

]  i  various  other  provinces  of  Earth,  325 

Where  less  prolific  means  of  life  and  health 
Kxist — Where  sterile  soil,  and  freezing  winds 
Against  the  industry  of  man  contend, 
And  starve,  and  choak  kind  Nature's  friendliest  growth  ; 
Where  states  ambitious,  hostile,  feast  on  War,      380 
And  stain  with  blood  the  snowy  Crest  of  peace  ; 
K'en  there,  Refinement's  pleasure-dealing  hand, 
The  bliss  which  fits  the  soul  for  tasting  Heaven, 
And  gives  existence  all  its  honied  zest, 
Hath  scatter'd  wide  and  copiously  around — .  335 

E'en  there,   a  thousand  consecrated  Fanes, 
To  glorify  our  God,  in  grandeur  rise. 
Why  then  should  mild,  and  more  congenial  climes, 
Where  the  maternal  hand  of  Nature  rears 
Salubrious  plenty  from  her  fruitful  soil,  340 

Diffusing  through  the  aromatic  air, 
The  pleasant  fragrance  of  mellifluous  blooms  ; 
Where  softest  Music  pours  perennial  songs, 
And  summer-cooling  Rivers  roll  their  floods, 
Inviting  Population  to  their  banks,  345 

And  cheering  Commerce  to  their  crystal  waves; 
O  !  why  should  climes  distinguish'd  thus  by   Heaven, 
Tli*  afifirofiriate  residence  of  cultured  life 
In  dark  barbarian  glooms  continue  wrap'd, 
Th'  abode  of  prowling  Savages  and  Beasts  350 

Llilood-Ujpigering  fierce?     No  portion  of  this  Earth 
o  nurture  Hell's  infernal  grisly  brood, 


28  BOONE'S 

Was  by  its  holy  Maker  e'er  design'd ;   . 

Or  to  remain  a  dark  and  frightful    waste, 

When  wisely  furnish'd  for  the  residence  355 

Of  rational,  humane  and  polish'd  Man. 

For  HE  the  righteous  Author  of  the  World 

Design'd,  that  we,  as  Guardians  of  his  work, 

And  Agents  of  his  holy  will  ;  that    We, 

Should  open  in  the  regions  of  the   West  360 

A  sanctuary  from  the  foes  of  VICE, 

Who  from  Oppression,  Cruelty,  and  Wrong, 

And  all  the  ills  of  European  climes, 

Have  fled,  a  refuge  here  lo  find,  beneath 

Tli'  Angelic  wings  of  Liberty  and  Peace. 

The  sacred  duty  thus  to  us  assign'd, 

We  only  have  as  yet  in  part  perform'cl. 

Wide  stretching  from  the  Alleganean  Mount 

Far  westward  and  towards  north  and  south,  vast  bounds 

Of  rich  and  beauteous  country  unreclaim'd  370 

From  dreary  wildness,  ask  our  culturing  aid. 

God's  wisdom  and  munificence  declare, 

'Tis  not  his  will,  that  those  luxuriant  climes 

Should  be  monopolized  by  scatter'd  hordes 

Of  rude  preciaceous  men,  who  feed  on  blood,        37 j 

And  all  their  days  through  dismal  darkness  grope  ; 

White  crouded  into  unproductive  nooks, 

In  other  regions,  polish'd  millions  starve. 

Lo  !  how  already,  trom  th'  Atlantic  deeps 

,Xo  where  this  Mountain  lifts  its  clouded  brow,     3fc. 


, 


ADVENTURES. 

Our  influence,  has  th 'effulgent  floods  diffused, 

Of  Revelation's  everlasting  light  ; 

Dispersing  superstition's  sombre  shades, 

And  settling  science  on  her  splendid,  seat, 

Serenely  bright,  seraphic,  and  sublime  !  385 

How  have  we  clothed  a    wilderness   with    smiles, 

And  made    the  gloomy  heaths  and  deserts  bloom  ! 

Mow  to  the  exiles  of  a  tyrant  land, 

A  home,  and  all  the  joys  of  life  we've  given  ! 

Erecting  in  this  new-discover'd  World,  390 

A  bless'd  Asylum  for  sweet  Liberty, 

And  for  each  sacred  Virtue  that  adorns 

The  Patriot's  and  the  Christian's  hallow 'd  lives. 

But  westward  of  these  mighty  mountain  piles, 

Th'  illuminating  blaze  of  Gospel  day,  395 

Our  civilizing  influence  ne'er  has  spread. 

Now  is  tii*  auspicious  time  for  us  to  plant 

Our  beaming  banner  firmly  in  those  wilds. 

For  now,  the  East  with  population  teems, 

And  gallant  thousands  would  our  call  attend.  .      400 

For  now  the  tide  of  Emigration  rolls, 

The  sons  of  Europe  to  Columbia's  shores, 

And  swarms  are  sighing  for  a  land  to  call 

Their  own.     O  !  then,  immortal  seraphs  muse  ! 

Profoundly  muse,  on  the  momentous  theme,          405 

And  your  impressions  give  ;  that  all  the  light 

Of  our  united  minds  may  clearly  shew, 

In  prosecution  of  the  high  design, 


30  BOONK'S 

The  best,  the  wisest  course,  for  us  to  take." 

Thus  spake  the  Angel  of  celestial  Truth.  410 

HUMANITY'S  bright  seraph  next, 
With  sweetly  melting  grace,  divinely  rose. 
As  innocently  meek  as  Infancy, 
When  mildly   slumbering  in  an  Angel's  arms, 
His  lovely  features  \vere  ;  a  tender  smile  415 

With  holy  grandeur  mingled,  o'er  them  beam'd  ; 
And   in  his  eye  the  tear  uffeding'  shone. 
Fiom  underneath  his  snowy  mantle,  forth 
His  beauteous  hand  he  waved  ;  and  from  his  lips 
In  mild  seraphic  melody,  effused  420 

TV  ensuing  strain.     "  Ye  venerated  hosts  ! 
Our  great  compeer  with  transport  have   I  heard, 
And  much  his  weighty  counsel  do  approve. 
So  comprehensive  was  his  general  view, 
That  our  peculiar  interests;  if  we  may  425 

Peculiar  call,  what  are  so  intertwined ; 
His  kind  benevolent  feelings  to  engage, 
Seem VI  little  less,  if  less,  than  did  his  own. 
In  every  fibre  of  my  throbbing  heart, 
His  every  word  a  lively  echo  found.  430 

O  yes  !    companions  in  the  joys  of  bliss  ! 
We  will  refine,  exalt,  and  humanize 
Th'  uncivilized  Barbarians  of  the  West. 
The  bloody-minded   Wretch  who  now  can  see, 
Without  a  single  pitying   sigh  or  tear,  43$ 

Beneath  the  ruthless  hatchet's  dreadful  edge, 


ADVENTURES. 

An  inoffensive  Infant  bleed  and  die  ; 
Can  hear  unmoved  the  Captive  Mother  plead, 
Tuat  her  sweet,  dariing  innocent  may  live  ; 
Can,  when  the  writhing  of  her  Babe  has   ceased,  440 
And  death  its  little  eyes  in  night  hath   seal'd  ; 
The  fainting  Mother  to  a  doom  devote 
Still  more  ferocious  !      More  infernal  still  ! 
The  tusk,  the  Godlike  task  be  ours,  that  wretch 
In  bright  Refinement's  golden    crucible  445 

Tw  melt,  to  decompose  and   sublimate  1 
Untill  to  pity's  thrilling  touch  alive, 
Ht;  thinks,  he  acts,  and  feels,  as    social  MAN  ! 
How  comforth-ss  !  with  misery  how  replete, 
Th'  unenlightenM  Indian's  barbarous  life  !  450 

Their  golden  billows  o'er  the  smiling  plain, 
For  him,  no  plenty-yielding  Harvests  wave  ; 
For  '  i  u,  in  fields  no  flocks  domestic  raa^e  ; 
For  him,  no  fruitage-purpled  gardens  blush; 
Nor  ripen'd  Orchards  on  the  dewy  grass  455 

Their  mellow  burdens  drop,  emitting  wide 
A  honied  fragrance  on  the  fluttering  gales. 
For  him,  no  rich  and  fiavorous  viands  crown, 

For  mirth-inspiring  Wines,  the  social    feast  ; 

lo  ornamented  dome  for  him  unfolds  460 

Its  sculptured  doors — No  decent  cottage  screens, 
the  bleak  winter   blasts,  his  thin-clad  limbs  ; 

for  easy  couch  e'er  rests  his  aching  frame. 

lut  penury,  and  cold,  and  weariness 


52  BOONE  S 

Are  the  attendants  of  his  joyless  life. 
The  forest  H<.  rb  ge  and  the  Mountain  Beasts, 
Through  wind,  and  rair.,  and  snow,  with  danger  sought, 
His  meagre  store  of  doubtful  food  supply. 
Half-starved,  and  shivering,  through  the  driving  blasts, 
Successless  oft,  the  CATERER  returns,  470 

To  where  beneath  his  smoking  hut  of  bark, 
His  pining  wife,  and  naked  babes,  he  left ; 
And  finds  them  butchcr'd  by  a  neighbouring  foe, 
Or  torn,  and    slaughter'd  by  blood-drinking    Beasts ! 
It  much  behoves  us  then,  August  Compeers  !  475 
Among  the   wild  barbarians  of  the    West, 
The  humanizing  Arts  to  introduce; 
To  bid  industrious  Agriculture  pour 
His  cheering  comforts  through  their  needy   tri 
And  bury  Carnage,  Penury,  and  Woe, 
Beneath  the  bosom  of  the  furrow'd  soil. 
But  oh  .'  how  delicate  the  glorious  task  ! 
How  hard  t'  achieve  without  the  waste  of  blood 
Short-sighted,  blind    to  all   that  can  adorn, 
Exalt,  illume,  and  dignify  their  lives,  485 

The  WHITES,  the  jealous  Indians  view  as  foes, 
Who  purpose  their  extinction  from  the  globe. 
With  means  so  badly  suited  to  the  end, 
'Tis  not  within  the  compass  of  our  power, 
So  great  a  work  t'effVct,   without  the  loss  490 

Of  many   lives,  unless  an  agency 
We  interpose,  so  Jialjiably  divine 


ADVENTURES.  33 

As  to  transcend  the  boundaries  of  our  sphere, 

And  overwhelm  with  Miracles  the  mind 

Of  dim-eyed  man.     But  still  our  rightful  power    495 

Embraces  such  extent  of  various  means, 

For  the  performance  of  our  rig '\t-ous  plans, 

That   much  the  interests  of  my  ,<-fi>-  cial  cause 

Depends  on  the  selection  of  a  course,  499 

Through  which  our  great  design  must  be  achieved  : 

That  course,  though  tardiest,  and  of  pomp  devoid, 

Whose  progress,  least  sanguineous  traces  stain, 

And  slightest  vestiges  of  suffering  mark, 

Is  doubtlessly  the  one  we  should  prefer. 

But  other  spirits  here  there  are,  who  b<-st  505 

Can  designate  the  peaceful  plan  we  wish— 

Who  understanding  best  the;  savage  heart, 

Its  passions,  dispositions,  whims,  and   views, 

Know  best  the  means  its  confid.  r.ce  to  win. 

Yes,  s-tcred  Guardians  of  the  d>:sfrt    W-st  !  510 

From  you   we  claim  the  necessity    light 

On-  weighty  subject  needs.    Thus  much  we've  said, 

That  you  the  cause  might  clearly  comprehend 

Of  this  our  great  and  sacred  convocation  : 

We  now  tli' expression  of  your  holy  views,  515 

In  silence  wait." — A  musing  pause   ensued  ; 

Till  on  a   signal  given  by  his  colleagues, 

To  whom,  with   him,  peculiarly  pertains 

The  govern  mce  of  those  expansive  wilds, 

The  holy  Spirit  of  Superintending  Zeal,  520 


34  BOONE  S 

And  Delegated  Trust,  whose  labors  were 

Within  no  s/iecial  province  circumscribed  ; 

But  an  auxiliary  aid  to  all 

The  Western  Peers  imparted,  and  for  them 

The  cares  of  Embassy     sustain'd,  arose,  525 

And  thus  with  glowing  animation  spake. 

"  On  the  abundant   energizing  zeal, 
In  this  sublime  concern  so  promptly  shewn  ; 
With  warm  congratulations  from  the  heart, 
This  reverend  convocation  I  salute.  530 

At  length,  immortal  peers  !  th'  eventful  voyage 
Of  sailing  Time  has  brought  us  to  a  sea, 
O;i  whose  wide  breast  ten  thousand  scenes  appear 
In  prospect  changeful,  as  in  number  great. 
Here  fruitful  islets,  gay  in  flowery    robes, 
Perfume  the  gales  and  cheer  the  gazing  eye. 
There  frowning  rocks  high  heave  their  gloomy  heads 
And  cast,  their  shady  horrors  wide  around. 
H.  re,  soft-wing'd  breezes  kiss   the  slumbering    waves 
And   gently  fan  the  brilliant  flame  of   joy,  540 

Keeping  alive    the  spark  in  Hope's  bright   eye. 
There,   death-jaw'd    Tempests    howl  for  prey, 
And   lash   with  league-long  wings  the  tumbling  deeps. 
But   when   we   reach  this   sea's   magmfic    shore, 
Bright   glory's  richest  treasures   wait  us   there  :     54.:- 
And  though   we  meet  obstructions  on  the   way, 
Our  God,  th'  unerring  pilot  of   the  just, 
Will   guide  us   safely  through   each  threatening  pass. 


ff, 


ADVENTURES.  35 

At  length,  Angelic  colleagues  !  dawns   the  day,     549 
Which   will    with   due  reward    our   labors  crown : 
The   day    when   all    th'  innunierous   treasur'd  stores 
By  us  prepared  in  our  immense  domain, 
Will    yield  their  splendors  to  exulting  Man, 
And   magnify   the    glory  of  our  King, 
By   nurturing  millions  in  our  fertile  Wilds,  555 

His  name  to  celebrate,  and  courts  to  croud. 
E'er  since,  at  God's  behest  this   massy  Orb, 
Its  annual    rounds  commenced ;  our  powers  divine 
Have  sway'd  unconquer'd,  though  by  Hell's  black  fiends 
Oft   times   opposed,    that  vast  unpeopled  land ;       560 
And   from   successive   dangers  with  our  shields 
Angelic,  guarded    all  the  wide    expanse. 
Rememuci ,    Peers  !  th'exertion  of  our  might, 
We  erst  bestow'd  to   save   that    vast  domain,         5fi* 
When  God's  almighty  vengeance  glow'd  from  Heaven 
Down  through  this  sinful  globe,  and  fast  exhaled 
Her  boiling  waters  from  their  foaming  gulphs, 
Their   rumbling  reservoirs,  and  roaring   seas, 
And   fill'd  with  floods   the  frowning  firmament  ; 
Untill  from  bursting  and  o'e\-burden'd   clouds,      570 
Throughout  the    lapse  of  "  forty  days  and  nights," 
O'erwhelming    deep   and  wide  the  drowning  globe, 
Profuse  the  congregated  Oceans  gush'd. 
Remember,  Peers  I  how   then  our  posts  we  kept, 
By   all  the   watery   terrors   undismay'd  :  575 

And  scenes  like  those>  so  woe-fraught,  vast,  and  dread, 


36  BOONE'S 

In  times  before,  or  since,  have  ne'er  transpired. 

Seraphic   language    can't  portray,  nor  mind, 

Unless   it  siw,   conceive  the  prospect,    we 

On  that  occasion   view'd  ;    the  terrors,  which,        580 

To  guard  from   Wreck  our  realm,  we  then  withstood* 

We  saw   and  heard  the  tumbling  torrents    roll 

Wiih  roaring  rage,  o'er   crags,  and   rocks,  and  steeps 

Of  thundering  mountains,    and   of  trembling  hills  ; 

And    thence  swift  down    the   winding   dells   descend. 

Till  on  the   deluged   plains  their  Oceans  pour'd  ; 

In  dreadful  desolation,  burying  deep 

Citation's  mii!io;s!  Man,    and    Beast,   and   Fowl; 

All    save   the  favor'd  remnant   in  the    Ark  ; 

While   cities,  domes,  and  fanes,   the  wealth  and  pride 

Of  haughty    prince  dom's,  sweli'd  the    £ro»"»«s  »vi-ci,k. 

Athwart  the  turbid   uccps  outstretch'd,  immense  ! 
The  sturdy  criants  we   beheld   roll   back 
With  strong  nerved  arms,  the  darkly  tumbling  waves* 
Till    with   fatigue  o'erpower'd,  in   mad    despair,     595 
They  grasp'd   convulsively  the  floating  drifts, 
'Whence   soon  by    strongly   driving   torrents  swept. 
Amid  the    gulphs   vertiginous  they  sunk  : 
Still   hugely   heaving  through  the    swallowing  tide, 
Till  from  their  spouting  nostrils   gush'd   their  lives. 
His  raven-color'd    flag,  full-feasted    Death  601 

Spread  on   the  frothy  flood    and  grin'd   with   joy, 
To  see  on  every  surge    his   trophies  float. 
In  that  unequal'd  hour  of  his  dread  reign, 


BOONE'S  .37 

What  horrors  hover'd  o'er  the  woeful  wreck,     60S 
Around  the  Heavens,  a  dismal  darkness  frown'd  : 
No  glance  of  light  the  dreary  gloom  could  pierce, 
Save  what  the  rushing  meteor  swiftly  shot ; 
Disclosing  thickly  through  the  murky  glare, 
Ten  thousand  grisly  ghosts,  and  on  the  waves       610 
As  many  froth-white  corses,  ghastly,  wan  ! 

We  saw  the  swelling  floods,  like  battling  hosts 
In  foaming  vengeance,  roll  their  adverse  tides, 
And  meet,  and  break,  and  roar.     Still  higher  rose, 
And  higher  still,  the  counter-torrents  ;  dark,  615 

Stupendous,  raging,  desolating,  wild ! 
Amid  the  watery  wars,  VOLCANOS  burst ; 
And  through  the  deeps,  their  hissing  lavas  belch'd. 
Tremendous  thunders  shook  the  shud'ring  world ; 
Wide-circling  whirlpools  stretchM  their  gulphy  jaws.  620 
The  hills  were  swept  away !  the  mountains  torn 
Aside,  and  tumbled  through  the  rolling  Vast  ! 
While  black.  DAMNATION'S  legions  scream'd  with  joy ! 
'Twas  then  immortal  Spirits  !  our  powers  were  tried. 
Amid  commotions,  horrors,  groans,  and  death,        625 
Our  souls  were  stay'd  !      No  fears  our  valor  chill'd  ! 
The  crashing  wrecks  we  brav'd,  and  bore  aloof 
From  our  domain,  the  desolating  DRIFTS 
Of  broken  mountains,  hills,  and  rough-edg'd  rocks ; 
Which  driven  in  ridgy  masses,  rudely  tore,  630 

And  furrow'd  up  with  ruinous  force,  the  LAND, 
So  steep'd,  and  yielding  then, -wheree'er  they  roll'di 

D 


38  ADVENTURES. 

And  as  the  waning  inundation  sunk 

We  still  our  powers  preservative  employ'd : 

Our  soil  from  the  accumulated  PILES, 

Outweighing  then  the  weakning  waves,  to  guard.     635 

That  time  from  threatening  injury  thus  sccur'd 
Our  beauteous  realms  ;  through  all  vicissitudes 
Of  changing  elements,  they  still  have  been 
Our  unneglected  charge,  our  constant  care. 
When  from  the  gen'ral  surface  of  the  globe 
The  deep  o'erwhelming  DELUGE  disappeared; 
To  qualify  for  future  use,  t'enrich 
And  beautify  the  land,  we  spread  a  Lake, 
Expansive,  pure,  throughout  a  wide   extent 
Of  the  delightful  west,  and  rear'd  of  rock 
A  mound,  to  bar  its  access  to  the  main 
South  west  ward  ;  long  within  its  meted  bounds, 
With  principles  of  fertilizing  power 
Keplcte,  the  beauteous  inland  sea  remain'd,  650 

Discharging  through  the  channels  of  the, north 
Its  suficrabounding  floods.     Its  end  attain'd, 
We  bade  explosive  matter  form  a  train, 
And  through  the  mountain-ledge  a  passage  burst. 
With  rapid  flow,  to  Mexico's  great  gulph,  655 

The  unsustain'd,  immense  of  water  gushed ! 
And  left  the  bosom  of  th'enriched  expanse 
T'cr,joy  the  temp'rings  of  a  genial  sun. 
To  those  high-favor'd  regions,  to  impart 
Still  prouder  charms,  salubrity,  and  wealth,  66  > 


UJV 


BOONE  S 

And  give  them  commerce  with  th'enlightened  world ; 

We  bade  from  distant  mountains,  rivers  rise, 

And  roll  their  currents  through  the  mcllow'd  plains; 

Meanwhile,  wide  o'er  its  surface  Vegetation  sprang, 

And  trees  in  shady  pride  majestic  grew  ;  665 

Around  whose  virent  branches,  thickly  twined 

Luxuriant  vines.     Large-grown,  gay-tinted  flowers, 

The  groves  with  intermingled  beauties  cloth'd  j 

And  sprinkled  odorous  sweets  on  every  gale. 

The  tender  melody  of  feather'd  love,  67® 

Its  animation  spread.     With  raptur'd   life, 

Each  spray  was  bending.     Each  successive  season, 

Successive  beauties  brought.     E'en  Winter's  reign, 

Though  Vegetation  fell  beneath  his  frown, 

With  more  fertility  the  soil  endued.  67s 

Thus,  holy  guardians  !  had  our  care  prepar'd, 
Long  ere  his  foot  had  press'd  this  western  world, 
In  it  for  man,  a  rich  and  charming  home. 
And  yet  than  bloody  beasts  and  savages, 
No  other  habitants  can  there  be  found.  480 

E'er  since  from  Asiatic  climes  arriv'd 
The  tawny  legions,  still  our  guardian  zeal, 
With  unremitting  fervency  has  glow'd. 
ow  oft  when  elemental  conflicts  roar'd 

,Vithin  our  beauteous  country's  blooming  bounds,   6£5> 
And  threatened  with  convulsions  to  destroy 
Its  elegance,  and  worth,  have  we  restrain'd 

Their  devastating  rage,  and  laid  asleep 


40  ADVENTURES. 

The  jarring  ferment.     Recollect,  O  Peers  ! 

That  awful  day,  the  slaughter'd  Mammoth  fell! 

Against  satanic  spirits  then  was  roll'd, 

The  thunders  of  our  wrath.     What  powers  of  soul  I 

What  energy  of  nerve  !  was  then  requir'd 

To  slay  the  ravening  tyrants  of  the  West  ! 

The  dreadful  monarchs  of  the  trembling  beasts !  695 

And  vanquish  their  infernal  aids  from  Hell  ! 

Yet  this  we  did,  seraphic  peers,  and  more  ! 

But  why  our  guardian  feats  enumerate, 

Since  every  eye  in  this  divan,  declares, 

Divine  determination  to  pursue  70o 

The  glorious  object  which  conven'd  us  here. 

It  would,  with  angel  wisdom  ill  accord, 

Such  zealous  vigilance  to  exercise; 

And  such  illustrious  labors  to  perform  ; 

Without  a  consummation  Of  the   views 

Which  gave  them  origin.     'Tis  Folly's   part 

To  toil,  and  not  enjoy.     To  clear  the  soil, 

And  leave  it,  t'expend  with  pains  his  time,  and  wealth 

In  building  mansions  for  the  vagrant   winds. 

What  next  demands  attention  is  the  means         710 
By  which  our  object  best  can  be  achiev'd. 
And  here  the  Seraph  who  address'd  you  last, 
Has  kindly  yielded  preference  to  us, 
Colleagues  divine  !  as  understanding  best 
The  savage  heart,  and  therefore  best  prepar'd, 
To  say  what  course  is  likeliest  to   ensure 


BOONE  S  *J 

Our  cause  suecess.    The  means  which  I  propose. 
As  best  adapted  to  the  great  design, 
Is  some  adventurous  woodsman  to  select ; 
And  secretly  his  soul  inspire  to   choose 
A  band  of  daring  comrades,  to  explore 
In  hunting  guise,  our  wide  unsettled  realm  ; 
That  while  unwak'd  the  savage  jealousies 
Remain ;  such  general  knowledge  may  be  gain'd 
Of  that  delightful  land,  as  will  invite 
Columbia's  enterprising  heroes   there. 
But  let  the  chief  on  whom  our  choice  alights, 
lie  one,  in  whose  expanded  breast  are  found, 
The  great,  ennobling  virtues  of  the  soul ; 
Benevolence,  Mercy,  Meekness,  Pity,  Love,  730 

Benignant  Justice,  Valor  lion-like, 
And  Fortitude,  with  stoic  nerves  endow'd. 
And  those  with  whom  his  fortune  is   combin'd, 
Let  them  be  great  and  virtuous  like  himself. 
For  if  unable  to  dispose  the   hearts  735 

Of  the  fierce  sanguinary  savages 
To  friendship  with  the  whites — with   these    to    share 
The  uncultivated  regions  of  the  west  ; 
Adventurers  thus  humane,  from  vice  thus  free, 
At  least  would  not  by  cruelty,  and  crimes,  740 

Awaken  all  the  flames  of  Indian  ire  ; 
Nor  purposely  do  aught  we  could  condemn. 
Since  Heaven  on  us  the  power  has  not  bestow'd, 
Elsewise  than  through  a  medium  to  achieve 
So  great  a  work,  such  let  that  medium  be,  746 

2 


42  ADVENTURES. 

As  best  with  God's  own  sacred  will  accords  ! 

If  for  the  task  were  delegated  first, 

Without  a  guide,  or  previous  knowledge  given, 

A  jumbled  multitude,  discord,  and  blood, 

Distress,  and  final  failure  would  attend 

The  enterprise  ;  unless  by  miracles 

A  supernatural  power  were  interpos'd. 

In  prosecution  of  the  safest  course, 

We  still  an  opposition,  bred  in   Hell, 

Will  have  to  meet.     Pei'haps  th'infernal   host         755 

Appriz'd  of  our  convention,  even  now 

Have  emissaries  station'd,  to  observe 

Our  consultations.     Cunning,  artifice, 

A.nd  machinations  croud  the  courts  of  Hell ; 

And  keep  the  demon-legions  ever  keen 

In  vision,  to  espy,  whate'er  within 

Their  restless  rambles  through  the  roomy  earth, 

May  offer  means  to  them,  man's  weal  to  mar. 

But  if  the  savage  soul  should  not  be  sear'd, 

And  callous  made,  by  Satan's  caustic   arts, 

To  Reason's  force :  if  open  yet  to  proof, 

That  NATURE'S  common  right  demands  of  them, 

Partition  with  the  Whites,  of  their  wild  lands; 

That  Christian  Domination  there  would  shed 

Unknown  delights  upon  their  gloomy  hearts,          770 

And  banish  thence  their  thorny  woes,  and  wants  j 

Diffusing  through  their  unillumin'd  minds 

The  ravs  of  mental  light — that  christianizM 


BOONE'S  43 


And  philanthropic  man  can  ne'er  delight, 

In  the  distresses  and   extermination 

Of  his  own  kindred  men  ;  but  the  reverse  ; 

That  he,  sweet  animating  joy  derives 

From  seeing  happy  millions  round  him  swarm  ; 

And  never  is  more  bless'd  himself  than  when 

He  makes  the  wretched  bless'd- — if  Indian  minds  780 

Can  possibly  be  brought  to  feel  these  truths, 

The  plan  adapted  best  t'effectuate 

An  end  so  great,  is  that  which  I  propose. 

To  prove  that  man's  professions  are  sincere, 
His  practices  should  therewith  coincide  ;  785 

And  virtuous  conduct  in  a  multitude, 
Where  Satan  has  more  pow'r  to  operate, 
Is  not  so  frequent  found  as  '.mongst  a  virtuous  few. 
But  sacred  Spirits  !  more  is  needless  here. 
Your  searching  minds,  the  theme  throughout  have  scan'd : 
If  they  approve  the  measure  I  propound  791 

So  will  you  now  declare." 

Through  all  the  hall 
A  vote  of  cheerful  approbation  ran. 
Then  rose  the  guardian  Spirit  of  Enterprise, 
And  thus  address'd  the  Angelic  convocation.          795 

"  Benevolent  ministers  of  love  !  we  well. 
On  this  momentous  era  of  our  reign, 
With  gratulations  may  each  other  greet. 
In  fascinating  perspective  I  see 
Refinement's  g-olden  temple  spread  800 


44  ADVENTURES. 

Its  softly-temper'd  blaze,  o'er  all  th'expansej 
Which  from  th'Alleganean  Mountain's  base, 
Westward  to  the  Pacific  deeps  extend — • 
I  see  its  brilliance  beaming  from  the  Lakes, 
Whose  billows  b^at  the  cold  Canadian  shores ; 
Along  Ohio's  smooth  majestic  stream, 
And  Mississippi's  mighty  flood  to  where, 
In  statelier  pomp  their  mingled  currents  roll, 
O'er  distant  Mexico's  blue-bosom'd  bay.        H^^^ 
Withsun-bro-.vn'd  cheek,  and  brow  with  odorous  wreaths 
Of  clover-bloom  engarlanded,  I  see,  S 1 1 

Young  Agriculture  smiling  o'er  the  west; 
While  Labor's  healthful  sons  around  him  flock, 
And  wait  his  mild  commands.     1  see  rich  fields, 
Green-waving    Meads,  and  flosculous  Gardens  spread 
Beneath  his  gladden'd  eye,  their  copious  stores  :       816 
While  Plenty,  Happiness,  and  Peace,  and  Joy, 
Religion,  Science,  Truth,  and  Love,  and   all 
The  VIRTUES  vivify,  illume,  refine, 
Exalt,  and  sublimate,  the  NEW-BORN  WORLD  ! 
Th'enrapturing  scenes  we  soon  shall  realize, 
Winch  warm  prophetic  Fancy  here  depicts, 
If  in  pursuit  of  the  benevolent  end, 
On  which  we  have  resolved,  we   delegate 
To  the  high  charge,  a  Hero,  whom  I  long  835 

Have  train'd,  with  cheerful  ease  to   undergo 
Privations,  dangers,  pain,  and  solitude. 
When  oft  thro'  frigid  storms,  and  forest-snow^, 
"Without  a  friend,  or  ire,  or  even  food, 


BOONE'S  45 


Save  what  the  desert  gave,  I've  seen  swift  speed     830 
To  rouse  from  his  thick  lair,  the  antler'd  Buck ; 
Or  from  their  dark  and  solitary  dens, 
In  dingles  deep,  or  wildly-jutting  cliffs, 
To  startle  forth  the  grim  predaceous  Beasts ; 
The  bounding  Catamount,  and  meagre  Wolf,         835 
The  surly  Bear,  and  slaughter-hungering  Panther: 
A  Hero  whom  no  terrors  can  appal  : 
Whose  bosom  feels  no  fear,  when  lost  in   woods 
The  wildest  that  in  all  the  mountain  waste 
By  wintry  winds  are  swept : — whose  sinewy  limbs  840 
Can  scale  the  roughest  mountain's  rocky  steeps 
With  vigorous  ease,  nor  feel  a  fibre  fail, 
Nor  quicken'd  breath,  nor  fluttering  pulse,  bespeak 
Fatigue.     But  in  his  breast  there  beats  a  heart, 
In  which  the  warmest  blood  of  Pity  flows.  845 

For  though  to  him  the  chace  affords  delight. 
As  warranted  by  the  Almighty's  grant, 
Within  a  limited  extent;  yet  such 
The  Hero's  tenderness,  his  soul   revolts 
From  needless  cruelty,  to  meanest  life.  850 

He  would  not  crush  with  wanton  tread  a  fly, 
Nor  e'en  with  useless  agonies  of  pain 
Torment  the  poisonous  snake.     The  tear  of  woe 
ws  from  his  breast  the  sympathetic  sigh, 

Sorrow's  plaintive  tale,  and  mournful  mien,     855 
Commisseration's  tender  throb  awakes 
Within  his  feeling  heart.     No  passion  reigns} 


46  ADVENTURES. 

Tyrannic  o'er  his  reason,     Patriot  love 

With  during  majesty  his  soul   inspires, 

And  would  with  equal  valor  make  him  brave 

The  lurking  dangers  of  the  savage  wild ; 

Or  face  in  open  field  the  frowning  front 

Of  thundering  Battle.     Generous,  guileless,  kind, 

The  gripe  of  sneaking  Avarice  ne'er  compress'd 

His  princely  heart.     No  mean  dissembling  smiles,  805 

Nov  smooth,  deceitful  speech,  his  views  conceal, 

Nor  form  a  feint  his  unsuspecting  friends, 

Within  a  venal  snare  to  lure.     He  gives 

To  modest  indigence,  with  bounteous  will, 

A  liberal  portion  of  his  little  store. 

The  ostentatious  pageantry  of  power, 

The  moon-shine  splendors  of  high-titled   bird 

And  fluttering  Fashion's  vain,  fantastic  pomp  ; 

For  his  sage  mind,  no  more  attractions  have, 

Than  shining  gossamer  upon  the  winds, 

Or  glittering  froth,  upon  the  turbid  streams. 

In  fine,  no  Hero  whom  I've  e'er  inspir'd; 

With  more  or  higher  Virtues  is  endued, 

Or  better  qualified  to  fill  the.  place, 

For  which  we  are  about  to  make  a  choice, 

Than  DANIEL    BOONE,  th'adventurous  Hunter, 

I  recommend.     And  he,  by  knowing   well 

The  human  heart,  and  having  friends,  whose  souls 

Like  his,  can  dauntless,  brave  the  stormy  wilds  ; 

Who  th'anguish'd  plaint  attend,  and  kindly  soothe       835 


BOONE'S 

With  sweet  condolence  Misery's  bleeding  woes— 
Whose  souls  with  magnanimity  expand, 
Sublimely  soaring  o'er  the  tinseled  swarms, 
Of  Pride,  and  Fashion.     With  such  means  possess'd, 
Companions  for  the  tour  he  can  enlist, 
\dapted  well  to  such  divine  emprise. 
.if  then,  Angelic  Peers !  your  judgments  deem 
[lim  worthy  of  the  trust,  so  will  you  say." 

With  undivided  suffrage,  the   Divan, 
The  enterprising  Angel's  choice,  approv'd:  89* 

And  by  their  solemn  institution  gave, 
To  him,  protection  of  the  new-made  CHIEF-W 
TO  Aim,  by  secret  inspiration  t'excite 
The  Hero's  valorous  soul,  to  undertake 
The  glorious  enterprise,  the  task  they  gare.          900 
Their  great  design  for  action^  thus  matur'd, 
Th'enraptur'd  convocation  ere  they  rose, 
Their  praise  in  loud  seraphic  peans  pour'd, 
To  that  transcendently  tremendous  GOD, 
Whose  frown,  an  UNIVERSE,  in  gloom  can  shroud;     903 
Whose  smile,  Illumination's  purest  blaze 
Through  an  infinitude  of  Night  can  spread ; 
And  with  Refinement's  ever-living  blooms, 
Creation's  wildest  WILDERNESS  can  clothe  I— 
RELIGION'S  sacred  Seraph  next,  gave  sign,        9  It 
II is  hallow'd  MAJESTY  in  prayer  t'addres*— * 
When  bowing  low  in  suppliant  attitude^ 
Their  animated  adorations  forth, 
The  reverential  congregation  breathed  ; 


*8  ADVENTURES. 

And  in  a  tone  af  warm  pathetic  zeal  915 

Effused  from  lips  bedewed  with  melting  sweets ; 
With  the  nectarean  quintessence  of  Love ! 
And  honied  balm  of  holy  Eloquence  ! 
Th'Almighty's  kindly  prospering  smile  implored, 
Around  the  Hero's  dreary  path  to  beam,  920 

And  light  him  safely  through  each  winding  maze,    . 
Until  success  his  great  adventure    crowned. 
Their  pious  service  clos'd,  the  kneeling  host 
Arose,  and  nought  their  Session  to  prolong 
Remaining  now,  the  holy  Synod  was  dissolv'd.       92J 

Each  Seraph  spread  his  sparkling  pinions  wide  j 
And  from  the  plume-bespangled  portico, 
Light  bounded  on  the  gently  buoyant  gales, 
And  swiftly  sail'd  to  his  appropriate  Sphere. 

So  from  their  anchorage  launch'd,  majestic  Ships,  93«f 
The  liquid  deeps,  in  gallant  beauty  skim; 
And  seek  o'er  Wilds  of  Ocean  far  remote, 
In  various  distant  Realms,  their  native  ports. 


THE 


ADVENTURES 


OF 


DANIEL  BOONE. 


BOOK  II. 


ARGUMENT. 

FROM  the  council-dome,  the  missioned  Seraph  flics  in 
search   of  Boone,  whom   he   discovers  on  the   TOWER  of 
ARARAV,  immersed  .in  paJjdalic  jnj^italipjis^}  to    which 
the  Angel  by  secret  inspiration,  gives  additional  ferven 
cy.      1  to  91. — Animated  with  the  prospect  of  discovery, 
usefulness,  and  fame,    which   his  immagination   had  de-    * 
picted  ;  he   selects  Jhe    Companions  of  his  adventures  ;  at  V* 
the  appointed  season  bids  adieu  to  his  Family  ;  and  com.    *  i 
mences  his  destined  tour.     92  to  293. — On  the  heights  of   ^i 
Allcgany,  after   several   days  progress,  the    Travellers    W< 
are  at  midnight  aroused  from   their  slumbers,  by    the    \ 
scream  of  a  Panther  ;  in  pursuit  of  which,  they  make  an 
unsuccessful   sally,  and  again  betake    themselves    to  re 
pose.     300  to  318.—^  short    time  elapses,  and  they    are 
alarmed   by    the    sight   of    VULOSKO    and  MELVILLE 
in  quest  of  MELCENA,  who   had  been  forced  by  ruffians 
from   her  Lover,  when  on  her  return  with  him  to  her  pa 
ternal  abode,  from  visiting  his  father.      The  Strangers 
join  Boone's  encampment,  and  the  night  is  passed  in  mu 
tual  inquiries  and  explications ,  which    terminate    with 
Vulofiko's  ^narrative.     326  to  828  — At  the  close  of  which, 
Boonc  promises   the  disconsolate  parent  all  possible  as- 
tistance,  in  the  recovery  of  of  his  beloved  daughter* 


THE 
ADVENTURES 

OF 

DANIEL  BOONE. 

Bobc'ji. 


WITH  meteor-swiftness,  from  the  council-dome, 
High  through  the  azure  heights  of  Atmosphere, 
His  lofty  way  the  missioned  Seraph  wing'cl ; 
Till  poised  above  the  Carolinian  hills, 
He  sought  with  searching  view,  th 'ad venturous  BOONE. 
Along  the  silver-shining  Yadkin  iirstj  6 

Where  stood  the  Hero's  rural  mansion,  glanced 
The  Angel's  vigorous  eye,  thence  o'er  the  Hills, 
His  usual  Ktinting-gfound,  which  bounds  the  vales, 
And  thence  swift  o'er  the  Mountain's  gloomy  Mounds;  10 
Ui.til  tli'august  sublimity  and  pomp 
Of  that  stupendous  TOWER,  whose  rocky  brow 
Fiona  towering  Ararat's  blue  summit  frowns, 


ADVENTURES. 


In  threatening  grandeur  o'er  surrounding   plains, 
And  proudly  fronts  the  Apalachian  Mounts,  15 

The  daring  Angel's  eagle  view  cnchain'd. 
For  it  so  much  the  power  of  God  display'd, 
That  e'en  to  Cherub  eyes  it  had  a  charm 
Sublime.     As  there  the  holy  Seraph   gazed, 
He,  on  the  holy  Battlement  espied 
In  Contemplation's  solemn  stole  enrobed, 
The  high-soul'd  Hunter.     The  magnific   PILE, 
As  through  contiguous  woods  the  Hero  ranged, 
His  thoughtful  soul  with  rapturous  awe  had  swell'd ; 
And  urged  him  to  ascend  its  perilous  crags,  25 

And  narrow-winding  chasms,  until  he  gain'd 
The  dizzy  height  I     Well  suited  was  the   scene, 
T'attune  his  feelings  for  th'inspiring   breath, 
Of  ardent  Enterprise — as  Boone  advanced, 
Their  steep  retreats  the  strong-wing'd  Eagles  left,  30 
And  sought  the  solitude  of  trackless  skies. 
In  pomp,  and  variegated  glories  clothed  ; 
Their  awful  heads,  cloud-crested  mountains  heav'd, 
High  in  the  North    Horizon.      And  towards   South, 
In  Spring's  new  verdure  dcck'd  a  vast   Campaign       : 
Disclosing  here  and   there  its  splendid    streams, 
Extended  far  beneath  th'impending  Tower. 
Sublimed  with  cxtacy,  the  Hero  stood, 
Surveying  round,  the  soul-exalting  scene, 
Which  seem'd  for  Meditation's  rye  prepared. 
Along  the  ragged  precipice  he  saw 


BOONK  3  5j 

The    lightning's  rifted  path.     Each  flickering  breeze, 
That  swept  the  grcy-brow'd  turrets,  seem'd  to  shake 
The  elevated  mass  1 — So  high  it  was, 
It  seem'd  t'invade  the  starry  bounds  of  Heaven  I     45 
So  high — the  Hero  thought,  his  air-fan'd  locks, 
Were  lifted  by  the  pure  empyreal  Winds. 
Ifis  raptured  Fancy's  reverential  eye, 
Was  raised  to  see  th'ExERNAL's  blazing  THRONE,- 
And  the  impetuous  gush  of  thought  o'erwhelm'd    50 
A  while  his  mind.     Meantime,  the  Angel  view'd 
Th'extatic  agitations  of  his  soul  ; 
And  in  a  spiritual  form  unseen,   approach'd 
Th'enravishM  Hero ;  breath'd  upon  his  heart 
A  vigorous  glow  ;  and  raised  him  from  his  trance.  55 
Collected  now,  and  the  presumptuous  wing 
Of  temerarious  Fancy  check'd  ;  his  mind 
Contemplates  ether  less  o'cr-powering  scenes, 
dapted  more  to  finite  ken.     With    love 

God  and  Man  inspired,  and  with  the   zeal          60 
Of  new-enkindled  Animation  rapt  ; 
His  view  expanding,  with  ih'expanding  range 
Of  far  seen  hills  and  plains  ;  his  towering  soul 
Disdaining  life's  inferior  toils,  which  cramp 
With  dull  employ,  the  nerves  of  virtuous  Power ;  65 
Which  chill  the  glowing  warmth  of  great   resolve, 
And  chain  t'an  inch  of  soil  those  energies, 
Tnat  were  design'd  to  dignity  a  World  ! 
His  patriot  bosom  panted  for  a  stage, 


^VENTURES. 

On  which,  for  his  loved  Country's  benefit, 

To  act  that  daring,  that  heroic  part, 

Which  was  commensurate  with  his  lofty  views. 

Again  his  fervid  soul  the  Angel  touch'd, 
And  spread  before  his  perspicacious   eye, 
A  theatre  of  ample  magnitude, 
Full  quadrate  to  the  Hero's  boldest  wish, 
The  wild  dominions  in  Columbia's  WEST  ! — 

Upon  his  Fancy's  pictured  tablet,  shone 
In  splendid  tints,  a  thousand  varied  scenes  ; 
Embellishing  a  dark  Barbarian  World  ! — 
Refinement's  golden  file  with  smoothing  sw 
Reducing  swiftly  from  the  savage  mind, 
Its  heathen  incrustations — kindling  light 
And  splendor,  where  investing  glooms  and  rust 
The  Indian's  intellectual  treasures  spoil'd. 
A  thousand  valorous,  soul-ennobling   feats 
Attendant  on  the  patriot  enterprise, 
Grandly  preparing,  an  expanded  sphere 
Fur  Commerce,  Wealth,  and  all  the  brilliant  Arts, 
Where  they  before  had  never  cast  a  beam,  90 

In  brilliant  prospect  warmed  the  Hero's  soul. 
Descending  down' the  shatter'd  precipice, 
He  sought  with  haste,  Companions  for  th'emprise  ; 
And  from  his  brave  associates  in  the   chase, 
Th'adventurous  Findley,  Stewart,  Holden,   Cool, 
And  Monay,  chose;  a  small,  but  daring  band! 
Soon  for  the  hazardous  cxplorement  was 


v'uiticum  p 


SOONii  S 

vepared. 


Now  came  the  day 

Of  keenest  grief,  that  e'er  the  breast  transplcr,: 
Of  the  immortal  Boone.     A  clay  on  which  100 

:  le  was  conslrain'd  to  leave  domestic   bliss,  *•' 
The  sweet  endearments  of  Connubial  Love — 
Caresses  fond  of  Babes,. and  kind  devoirs 
)f  friendly  neighbors.     These  he  had  to  leave, 
Not  for  his  wonted  time,  a  few  short  weeks;          105 
But  numerous,  dreary,  long-  and  tedious  Months  ! 
To  travel,  not  familiar  woods,  where  Man 
Meets  nought  but  timid  beasts ;  nor  cultured  realms, 
Where  Peace  and  Love  and  social  Science  charm  ; 
And  Hospitality  with  smiles   adorn'd,  1 10 

Huns  open-armed  to  meet  him  at  the  Gate  : 
But  where  a  dark  and  dreadful  desert  spreads, 
Between  the  Hero's  home  and  destined  land  ; 
V/hcre  Monstsr  Beasts  with  fierce  blood-hungering  howl, 
The  sounding  woods,  and  echoing  caverns  fill,        115 
And  death-delighting  Indians  lurk  for  life, 
In  every  bosky  nook  and  wild  retreat. 
.Ground  the  sadden'd  Chief  his  darling  sons, 
.4ml  daughters,  and  his  sorrow-wounded  wife, 
In  weeping  circles  drew.     In  vain,  he   strove          120 
Their  sobbing  hearts  to  sooth ;  in  vain,  he  tried 
T'assuage  the  bitter  woe,  that  swell'd  his  own. 
One  mournful  burst  of  sorrow  fill'd,  with  sighs., 
d  sobs  and  tears,  the  melancholy  house. 


ADVENTURES. 

The  tenderest  eloquence  of  mourning  love, 
At  length  broke  from  the  sweet  impassion'cl   lips 
Of  his  affectionate  spouse.     "  My  Boone  !"  She  cried, 
And  press'd  him  to  her  groaning  breast ;  "  My  Boone  1 
How  can  you  leave  your  Home,  your  Wife   and  Babes, 
Your  life  in  bloody  woods  to  jeopardize, 
Among  the  murdering  Indians'  cruel  tribes? 
My  God  !  the  horrid  thought  I  cannot  bear! 
How  shall  I  rest  in  peace,  when  dangers  watch 
To  take  away  my  dear  Companion's  life  ? 
How,  when  the  dreadful,  silent,  solitude  135 

Of  dark  and  cheerless  Night,  surrounds  my  Bed  ; 
When  Fancy's  gloomy  spectres  flit  along 
My  dreary  chamber,  and  your  bleeding  Corpse 
By  grinning  Savages  or  glare-eyed  Beasts, 
Before  my  sleejiless  eyes  is  rudely  drag'd  ; 
How  shall  I  then  support  my  sinking  heart  ? 
How  then  the  bodings  of  my  rueful  thoughts 
Endure  ?     Oh  then !  whut  answer  shall  I  give 
Our  darling  Infants,  when  their  lisping  tongues 
The  cause  inquire,  that  makes  me  wet  with  tears,     14J 
Their  little  cheeks,  and  steep  with  briny  dew 
My  sigh-warm'd  pillow  ?     What  answer   shall  I  give 
The  tender  prattlers,  when  they  sweetly  ask 
The  time,  their  absent  Father  will  return  ? 
Oh,  do  not  go!  MY  HUSBAND!  do  not  go! —        I5t 
T'allure  you  from  your  peaceful  Home, 
What  does,  what  can,  the  dangerous  desert  yield 


BOONE'S  57 

T  lat  would  our  Miseries,  Woes,  and  painful  Fears 

R< pay  ?     O!  if  you  go;  this  NOBLE  BREAST 

I   .car,  will  heave  its  last  in  savage  flames,  155 

Or  by  the  Indian's  butchering  vengeance  gash'd, 

Pcur  on  th'ensanguin'd  ground  its  crimson  life! 

If  there  you  fall,  no  tender  hand  will   Mash 

Yc  ur  clotted  wounds,  nor  shroud  jour  pallid  clay  ; 

No  sorrowing  friends  will  bear  you  to  the  grave,   160 

Nor  screen  from  prowling  violence  your  iimbsj 

Then  lifeless  cold  !     If  such  your  fate  should  be; 

How  could  my  widow'd  heart  sustain  the  pang 

Of  cruel  Grief,  that  then  would  lacerate 

Its  wasting  tendrils?     Oh  my  Boone !  my  Boone  !   165 

How  could — how  could  I  then  endure  to  see 

Our  Orphan-Infants  weep  their  Father's  Death ; 

And  hear  them  cry,  "oh  God!  he's  gone! 

Forever  gone  /"     Here  Grief  her  voice  suppress'd — 

A  mournful  pause  ensued — such  as  succeeds          170 

jTT-he  last  impressive  words,  of  some  adored, 

SoLie  dear-loved,  dying  friend,  when  round  his  bed 

Tlrj  weeping  clusters  croud,  and  see  the   beams 

Of  trembling  life  fade  in  his  closing  eye. 

From  every  pore  the  Hero's  manly  heart  175 

Rari  blood.     His  guardian  Spirit  hovering   near, 

And  witnessing  his  deep-depressing  grief, 

Inspirited,  again  his  drooping  soul. 

He  kiss'd  his  languid  Consort's  tear-dew'd  check, 

Am!  to  appease  the  pang  that  slung  her  breast     180 


.58  ADVENTURES. 

Addrcss'd  her  thus.     "  My  bosom's  dearest  love  1 

The  splendors,  titles,  honors,  wealth,  and  power, 

And  all  the  glittering  garniture  of  earth, 

To  me  are  trash,  compared  with  what  regards 

The  Peace  and  Happiness  of  you,  my  Wife,          185 

And  these  our  lovely  Cherubs  !     Sooner  would 

1  groan  my  life  away  in    servitude, 

Or  waste  my  days  in  dismal  dungeon-cells  : 

Yes  ;  sooner  would  I  brave  the  blazing  stake, 

Or  sink  amid  the  Caldron's  boiling  waves,  19C 

Than  doom  to  woe,  my  darling  Wife  and    Babes. 

But  ivoe,  my  dear  !  though  tasted  now,  this  hour 

Of  painful  parting,  Heaven's  benignant  hand 

Will  soon  avert.     For  Innocence  ne'er  drinks 

Long  time,  much  less  through  life,  its  bitter  cup.  ;   195 

And  oft  is  sipping  rirhly-flavor'd  sweets, 

When  thought  by  most  to  quaff  the  hateful  gall. 

The  task  that  separates  us  now   awhile, 

My  Angel !  is  not  self-imposed.     My  soul 

Of  late  is  by  an  ardent  impulse  urged,  208J 

The  grand  emprise  to  vmdeitake:  a   power 

From  Heaven,  must  actuate  unseen,  my  will 

For  so  detenninecl,  warm,  impulsive,  bold, 

It  never  heretofore  has  been  ;  and  all 

Its  ardor  to  the  self-same  object  tends. 

Such  influence  to  resist,  were  to  oppose 

The  powers  divine.  Those  po\vers,my  dear!  your  Boone: 

When  in  the  desert's  yelling  gloom  can  guard, 


BOONE'S  59 

Oi   Indian's  bloody  Camp;  as  well  as  when 

In  Carolina's  harmless  fields.     Those  powers, 

"Which  erst  protected  in  the  roaring  £cn 

Oi  dreadful  Beasts,  the  sacred  man  of  God  ; 

Those  righteous  powers,  which  from  the  gulphy  bowels 

Oi  the  huge  monarch  of  the  Deep,  brought  forth 

U  ilvurt,  Repenting  Jonah — they  can  shield 

Rom  flying  Tomahawks  the  naked   head  ; 
id   guard  it  from  the  horrid  scalping  knife, 
hen  I  am  absent,  think  of  this,  my  love  ! 
id  be  consoled.     That  same  benevolent   God, 
."Whose  hand  the  Raven's  callow  nestlings  feeds,    220 
Whose  eye  \vith  merciful  regard  observes 
His  humblest  work  ;  each  little  Sparrow  knows  ; 
*And  on  the  valley's  temlerest  Floweret  sheds 
J^The  beams  of  life  and  beauty— that  kind  God, 
|  When  I'm  away,  the  Father  of  our   Babes 
?*Will  be;  and  with  divine  protection's  wing 
f  Will  guard  their  pious  Mother.     Cease  then,  Love  ! 
»  To  weep  ;   and  on   That  ROCK  of  safety  rest 
|  Your  hopes,  your  cares— The  sovereign  law  of  Heaven 
|  Requires,  that  man  should  oft  the  sweets  forego 
>Of  loved  Society,  Companions,   Friends, 
Relations,  Children,  tender  Wife,  and  all 
To  tread  th'adventurous  stage  of  grand  empris* 
To  scatter  knowledge  through  the  Heathen  wilds, 
And  mend  the  state  of  Universal  Man  !— 
By  Duty's  stern  but  salutary  voice, 


60  ADVENTURES. 

Affection's  feeling  fibres  oft  are  jarr'd  ; 

Till  pain-wrung  blood-rills  streaming  thence,  d 

The  plumes  of^Pcace.     Yet  duty's  needful  call 

Must  be  obey'd.     For  keener  still's  the  pain 

Of  disobedience  to  the  will  of  Heaven, 

Than  all  the  torturing  pangs  of  sunder'd  love. 

When  parted  by  the  Wilderness,  my  spouse  ! 

Anticipated  bliss  will  animate 

Our  anxious  hearts,  and  cheer  our  darkest  days  ; 

And  well  it  may,  for  sweet  will  be  the  time, 

And  richly,  flowing  with  beatitude, 

When  from  my  grand  adventures  I  return. 

Then  will  we  on  the  shaded  green  recline, 

Or  round  th'enlivening  fire  ;  renewing  joys, 

Short  time  suspended  for  our  country's   weal, 

And  musing  on  the  wonders  of  the  West, 

And  the  protecting  goodness  of  our   God." 

Observing  now  his  consort  more  composed, 
The  Hero  paused,  and  heard  her  thus   reply.         255 

"  My  dear  companion  !  now  I  yield,   convinced, 
Thy  conscience  touch'd  by  holy  breath  from  Heaven, 
Commands  thee  to  the  great,  the  perilous  task.      «^ 
On  Duty's  pure  immaculate  Altar,  now 
I  sacrifice  the  tenderest  wish  of  Love !  160 

My  prayers  shall  plead;  when  each  new  morning's  dawn 
Breaks  on  the  fading  glooms  of  parting  Night, 
And  when  each  Evening's  mantle  shrouds  the  day  ; 
Shall  plead  for  God's  almighty  shield  to  ward 


ADVENTURES.  61 

From  ill,  my  absent  Boone  !"    Thus  was  her  heart  265 

From  deep  depression  raised  by  breath  beaign 

Of  kind  Humanity's  Seraphic  Spirit, 

Whose  feeling  eye  had  mark'd  her  painful   grief, 

And  on  her  soul  its  cheering  influence  beam'd. 

Now  close  the  designated  hour  advanced,  270 

His  partners  at  th'appointed  spot  to  meet. 

Again  the  Hero's  heart,  a  poignant  pang 
Transpierced — Again  with  sorrow's  sickening  throes, 
His  sweet  Companion's  snowy  bosqm  throb'd, 
Again  his  tender  children  loudly    wept !  275 

He  gave  his  wife  the  fond  farewell   embrace, 
And  on  her  lips  the  soul-enkindled  kiss 
Imprinted  ;  press'd  his  sobbing  Babes, 
Shook  all  their  ham's,  and  look'd  a  long  adieu ! 

Attended  by  his  viewless   Angel,  now,  280 

The  Hero  wends  to  meet  his  comrade  band  ; 
When  join'cl,  they  westward  take  their  pathless   way. 

To  beautify  their  route,  and  cheer  their  march  ; 
The  Queen  of  Spring,  mellifluous-breathing  May, 
Walk'd  with  them  o'er  the  wood-land  wilds,  ana  steep'd 
In  honey-dews  the  young  expanding  leaves;  286 

And  through  the  fleckered  forest  flung  perfumes; 
While  flowerets,  blooms,  and  fragrant  foliage   fill'd 
The  extended  boundaries  of  her  balmy    reign. 
Along  the  wilds,  ai;d  feather-winnow '4  air,  290 

In  animating  undulation*  flow'd 
The  sweetly  modulated  songs  of  Spring  ; 
F 


62  BOONE'S 

As  if,  the  journeying  Heroes  on  their  march, 

To  hail,  with   Gr at ulat ion's  melody  ! 

With  vigorous  speed,  o'er  plains  and  hills  they  hied ; 

Each  night  reposing  round  the  unshelter'd  fire.        296 

Soon  on  the  lofty  Alleganean  peaks 

They  tread.     Here  Nature's  rudest  hand  had  rear'c" 

CONFUSION'S  Battlements  sublime  ; 

And  here  had  SOLITUDE'S  dark  dingles  delv'd  ! —     300 

One  night  encompass'd  by  the  wildest  cliffs, 

That  jut  in  shaggy  prominence  high  o'er 

The  rugged  mounds,  around  their  glimmering  fi 

Our  Heroes  lay — 'Twas  midnight's  silent  hour: 

Unsleeping  Cynthia's  waning,  silvery  disk,  305 

Smiled  on  the  shadowy  hills,  and  palely  shone 

Along  the  Mountain's  slant  dew-glistening  rocks — 

The  restless  cascade  murmur'd  on  the  winds — 

The  Wolf-howl  echo'd  down  the  distant  dells — 

The  Zephyrs  were  on  wing.  Our  Heroes  slept —  310 

A  passing  Panther  snuff 'd  them  on  the    breeze, 

For  blood  alhirst;  hull'  resolute,  half  scared, 

He  crouching,  crept  near  by,  and  fiercely  scream'd, 

Then  farther  fled.     The  sleepers  startling,  woke; 

Their  rilies  seized,  and  clamber'd  o'er  the  cliffs.   315 

Far  on  the  moon-illumined  rocks,  Boone  spied 

The  bloody  prowler;  and  hi*  gun  discharged, 

But  miss'd  the  flying  mark.     Soon  back  return'd  ; 

They  stir  their  dwindling  fire,  and  rest  again.        319 

Some  time  elapsed  ;  each  eye  save  Boone's  in  sleep 


ADVENTURES. 

closely  sealed — but  his,  to  aid  hi; 
As  on  the  midnight  mountain  scenes  it  mused, 
Now  view'cl  the  blue  star-twinkling  vault,  now  glanced 
Along  the  high-raised,  dim-seen,  distant    woods, 
And  now  along  contiguous  cliffs  ;  on  which  325 

Beneath  slow-waving  tree.s,  the  moonshine  danced. 
Here  as  his  wakeful  eye  the  Hero  cast ; 
He  astonish'd,  saw  two  human  forms  slow  move 
Like  shadows  o'er  the  rocks — wild  wonder  rush'd 
Across  the  Hero's  heart — The  time  and  filace          330 
Denied  beliefj  that  mortal  men  they   were. 
But  in  their  hands  he  saw  their  swords'  dim  gleam, 
As  o'er  a  moon-light  space  they  softly  passed ; 
And  soon  again,  what  seem'd  like  guns  he    spied. 
Warm  vose  his  blood;   ".e  snatch'd  his  rifle  up,      335 
And  shook  in  haste  his  sleeping  fi  iends.   They  roused  ; 
When  instant,  disappear'd  .behind  the  rocks, 
The  unknown  beings.     Boone  gave  charge  to  hide 
Among  the  cliffs;  when  loud,  "Meicena!"  cried 
The  darkling  strangers ;  then,  "  my  child  !  my  child  !" — • 
Re-echoed  quickly  through  the  sounding  woods.     S4l 
Again,  "Infernal  Ruffians!  Fiends  of  Hell! 
May  God's  eternal  vengeance  blast  with   woe, 
Your  future  lives!"  "My  God  1"  said  Boone,"  what  does-, 
What  can  this  mean  ?"  And  then,  thus  question'd  loud: 
"  Where  is  your  child  ?    And  vvhoin  Heaven's  name  346 

Are  you  ? "  Mock  not  an  aged  Father's  grief," 

Replied  the  Stranger;  "  give  to- my  ai'ms  again, 


64,  BOONE'S 

My  lovely  Child  !  Oh  !  if  your  cruel  hearts. 

No  fear  of  that  all-just  tremendous  POWEK,  350 

Whose  thunders  soon  in  wrath.shall  wake,  and  leagued 

With   his  red  lightnings,  drive  to  Hell's  black  gulphs 

Your  demon  souls  ;  can  move  you  to  repent 

Your  hellish  guilt,  and  make  you  yield  my   Child, 

Let  .gold  restore  her  !  for  by  Him  I  swear,  355 

Who  made  yon  Moon,  and  her  bright  retinue ; 

That  if  you  will  give  back  to  me,  my  child, 

Ten  thousand  Guineas  shall  the  deed  reward  : 

Of  which  as  surety,  my  own  life  to  you 

In   pledge  I'll  give,  until  the  ransom's  paid; 

Which  shall  amid  these  mountain  wilds  be  done." 

Then  Boone — "  You  are  mistaken,  Sir,  I  swear 

By  him,  by  whom  you've  sworn,  we  are  not  those 

You  think;  poor*  inoffensive  travellers,  we! 

By  day  our  course  directing  to  the  land. 

Along; the  mighty  Waters  of  the  West, 

We1  sojourn  here  rio  longer  than  this  night : 

Be  not  of  us  afraid,  come  to  our  Camp, 

And  teil  your  tale  of  wrong.     If  aught  of  aid 

We  can  impart,  il  shall  be  promptly  given. 

We  invoke  the  God  of  Holiness  and  Truth, 

To  witness,  that  no  evil  we   design 

To  living  man,  and  that  whatever  is 

Of  her  the  fate,  whom  in  these  wilds  you  s 

We  neither  know  that  fate,  nor  are  its  cause.' 

The  undesigning  seriousness  of  tone, 


II 


ADVENTURES.         '  65 


With  which  the  Hero  spake  ;  in  part  dispell'd 
The  Father's  first  belief,  and  to  his  friend 
He  said — "  That  voice,  that  language,  seems  to  speak, 
Methinks,  a  soul  sincere  !  perhaps,  dear  youth !    S80 
We  wrong  those  men  ;  they  may  be  innocent  ; 
It"  so,  they  will  our  anxious  search   assist. 
I'll  know  ;  remain  you  here  mean  while,  young  friend  ; 
And  if  I'm  slain,  or  captive  made  ;  then  haste 
You  home,  and  summon  to  these  Hills  a  Host      385 
To  seek  my  darling  child,  t'avenge  my  fate, 
And  do  whatever  Wisdom  may  devise. 
Without  my  dear,  my  lost  Melcena  ;  life 
Is  little  worth  my  care.     But  you  are  young; 
And  should  not  rashly  risk  a  life  that  may,  390 

An  ample  share  of  bliss  enjoy  ;  though  lost 
To  her  whose  plighted  Love  would  soon  have   fill'd 
With  Hymeneal  sweets,  your  happy  soul. 
Enough!  if/bes,  they  may  surround  us  here: 
You  shelter  in  these  rocks  until  my  call,  395 

Or  friends  or  foes,  proclaim."  Th'impatient  youth — 
w  Let  me,  O  Father !  share  thy  doom,  my  Arm 
Feels  strong  !    my  life,  without    my  Love,  than  thine 
Is  worth  no  more — If  not  the  VILLAINS,  then 
We're  safe :    If  they,  no  better  chance  again          400 
May  e'er  occur,  to  wrest,  from  their  curst  hands, 
My  dear  Melcena — let  us  then   advance 
Together,  and  abide  the  worst :  my  sword 
Shall  shield  thy  head ;  my  gun  shall  do  its  part." 
2 


66 


BOONE'S 


415 


Too  well  Vulosko  knew  the  ardent  fire  405 

That  flam'd  within  the  youthful  Melville's  breast, 
To  struggle  long  its  daring  course  to  check. 
He  gave  assent  that  both  should  dare  the  peril : 
And  on,  o'er  intervening  crags  they  went  ; 
Till  at  the  Camp  ;  then  told  their  presence  there.     410 
Forth  from  their  refuge  dark,  our  Heroes  came  ; 
For  prudence  bade  them  not  expose  their  lives, 
By  staying  at  their  fire,  where  death  might  see 
To  aim  his  slaughtering  tube ;  and  as  they  came, 
Their  peaceful  views  in  solemn  terms  declared. 
Suspicion's  eye,  with  mutual  sternness  marked, 
From  either  side,  the  other's  every  look  : 
Until  asseverations,  statements,  style, 
Demeanor,  equipage,  and  dress  conspired, 
All  doubts  and  fears  from  every  breast  to   drive.  420 

In  converse  now  the  remnant  of  the  night 
Was  pass'd.     At  Boone's  request,  Vulosko  told, 
How  from  his  heart,  in  unpropitious  hour, 
Was  torn  his  dear  Melcena — prefacing 
With  a  brief  narrative  of  his  own  life 
The  painful  tale.     "  I  am  the  son,"  he  said, 
"  Of  an  adventurous  Nobleman,  who  left, 
The  blazing  clash  of  European  WAR, 
In  the  wild  Forests  of  this  Western  World, 
To  seek  the  silent  shades  of  bloodless  PEACE. 
His  infant  days  in  innocence   and  joy, 
Among  the  ALPINE  scenes  of  Love,  were  spent, 


ADVENTURES.  67 

A  id  pastoral  pleasure ;  and  around  his  path, . 

T  le  Sun  of  Peace,  for  fifteen  summers,  pour'd 

It  -  pleasing  splendors      "  Switzerland  !"     Him  oft   435 

"When  musing  on  his  juvenile  days,  I've  heard 

With  melancholy  extacy  exclaim; 

"O  Switzerland!     Sweet  land  of  Liberty! 

T  lou  Nurse  of  Virtue,  Piety,  and    Truth, 

T  lou  sacred  seat  of  cheerful  Industry,  440 

O.  daring  Independence,  Science,  Peace, 

A.id  all   that  purities,  exalts,  sublimes, 

A  id  sanctifies  the  HUMAN  HEART — Dear  Land  ! 

By  NATURE  guarded  from  Oppression's  gripe  ; 

Whose  sinewy  sons  with  sweeping  strength  can  hurl,  445 

From  their  rough  Mountains'  rich  and  rugged  heights. 

The  insulting  Myrmidons,  who  dare  invade 

The  precincts  of  their  PEACE-PROTECTED  homes. 

DEAR  LAND  !  where  CANDOR'S  fair  expanded  brow, 

And  steady-beaming  eye,  the  lofty  soul  450 

And  generous  philanthropic  Heart  declare. 

How  sweetly  would  my  unambitious  life, 

Among  thy  cultured  shades  have  glided   on, 

Had  not  the  glare  of  gorgeous  War  allured 

My  youthful  eyes,  and  drawn  me  to  the  din  455 

Of  distant  dangers." —  Well  might  he   lament 

The  infatuation  that  possess'd  his  brain, 

When  he  his  gentle  home  exchanged  for  fields 

Of  Blood.     For,  fighting  in  a  foreign   War, 

His  life  he  nearly  lost.     His  parents  died —  460 


6S  B»ONE s 

He  visited  a  German  relative, 
A  famous  General  in  the  imperial  reign 
Of  Leopold,  and  was  smitten  with  the    pomp 
Of  MARTIAL  POWER,  and  the  splendid  Fame 
Of  Military  conquest — Raptures  filled  465 

His  eye,  whene'er  he  heard  the  Soldier's   song, 
The  conquering  Warrior's  brilliant  deeds   resound. 
With  pride,  his  Kinsman  view'd  each  vivid  glance; 
And  through  his  influence,  for  the  ardent   youth, 
An  office  under  Prince  Eugene  obtained.  479» 

'Twas  when  the  Elector  of  Bavaria  rolled, 
In  junction  with  the  French,  the  bloody  flood 
Of  desolating  Battle,  o'er  the  vast 
Germanic  Empire ;  soon  my  Father's  fire 
.Was  join'd  to  the  confederate  flame,  which  burn'd  475 
To  oppose  the  Hosts  of  Tallard  and  Marsin. 
On  BLENHEIM'S  glorious  field  his  arm  was  tried 
Wheree^er  he  moved,  the  thunders  of  his  might 
Before  him  drove  the  dreadful  storm  of  Death ; 
And  ere  the  Battle  half  was  o'er,  his  name  480 

Was  shouted  through  the  ranks;  and  Glory's  wreaths 
Around  his  towering  brow  profusely  hung. 
But  dearly  were  his  laurels  bought ;  the  price 
Was  copious  torrents  of  his  glowing  blood  ! 
A  veteran  Horseman's  slcti  his  bosom  gashed,      485 
And  laid  him  bleeding  on  the  smoking  sward  ! 
The  roaring  conflict  ceased  ;  and  Victory's  voice- 
In  shouts  along  the  Icaugcd  Battalions   broke. 


ADVENTURES.  69 


A. tended  by  the  skill'd  Physician's   aid, 
Ii    an  adjacent  tent  my  father  i.iy  490 

H.»  slumbering   senses  werj  ^vith  cordials    waked — 
He  heard  the  loud  triu  :>eals,  and  smiled! 

B  it  soon,  the  mournf.. !  -tvaii  of  WIDOWED   WIVES, 
Who  had  at  distance   /Kvv'd  the  slaughtering    fray — 
The  anguished  groans  of  thousands  pained  with  wounds  ; 
A  id  Death'sblood-strangled  gasps,  his  heart  assailed,  496 
And  wraped  in  Pity's  glooms  his  pallid  Face  .' 
Ii    all  their  tender  melancholy  forms, 
RRFLECTION'S  soft  sensations  now  awoke 
Within  his  breast— His  native  Mountain  joys,          500 
\  T!ie  mild  pacific  intercourse  of  Love,  , 
That  binds  in  one  harmonic  friendly    band, 
The  unambitious  family  of  Swiss; 
In   contrast  with  the  Carnage,  Blood  and  Dea.th 
That  spread  the  plains  of  fierce  unhappy  WAR;  505 
Upon  his  soul  were  vividly  portrayed. 
"Ambition's  steely  casements,  from  his  heart, 
-Humanity's  dissolvent  gush  removed; 
And  Valor's  wild  intemperate  flame  was  quenched, 
In  the  soft-flowing  flood.     By  tender  care,  510 

His  wounds  were  healed,  and  his  sunk  health  restored. 

«s  feelings  now  were  changed,  they  loathed  at  War  ! 
id  though  his  native  Hills  he  loved  ;  he  sighed 
For  freedom  from  the  bloody  storm,  that  howl'd 
With  frightful  clamor,  round  tiie  neighboring  world. 
His  patrimonial  property  was  large:  516 


70  BOONE'S 

He  sold  it  all,  and  sought  o'er  surging  seas, 
The  solitude  aud  peace  for  which  he  sigh'd. 
In  Massachusetts  'province,  he  first  breathed 

Columbia's  aromatic  gales There   LOVE,  520 

Enchanting  poison,  through  his  veins  infused, 
And  bound  in  talismanic  trance  his   heart- 
Awhile  in  pain  he  loved  ;  but  PLEASURE  came, 
On  the  white  pinions  of  inspiring  HOPE, 
And  turned  his  dubious  passion  all  to  bliss.  525 

Him,  soon  the  Queen   of  his  affections   crown'd 
By  Hymen's  hand,  the  Monarch  of  her  Own.— 

In  search  of  still  profounder  solitude, 
To  Carolina  they  soon  after  came  ; 
And  there  awhile  the  quietude  they  wished, 
Enjoyed.     Their  wealth  was  ample,  and  they  lived 
In  happy  ease.     The  peasants  scattered  o'er 
Their  fruitful  farm,  with  joy  their  wants    supplied. 
I   was  the  only  child  that  crown'd  their  love. 
To  impress  with  virtuous  truth  my  ductile  mind,  535 
And  teach  me  how  a  dangcrou*  world  to  shun  ; 
Was  all  their  occupation.     Smoothly  flow'd 
Their  unimbittered  stream  of  life;  until 
The  cursed  Coree  and  Tuscarora  tribes 
Of  Savages  with   sanguinary  rage,  ; 

Enwrap'd  in  Night's  thick-muffling  darkness  rush'd 
"Wild  through  the  sleeping  Colony,  and   plunged 
Their  gory  daggers  in  the  unguarded  breasts 
Of  shrieking  Females,  stiuggiing  Babes,  old  Merit 


ADVENTURES,  71 


And  high-soul'd  Heroes  strong-  in  vigorous  youth  !  545 
That  Night  my  FATHER  died  !  and  MOTHER  too  ! 
That  tender  Mother  !  whose  benignant  face, 
"Whose  mild  benevolent  voice,  and  melting   eye, 
I  yet  remember  well:  O  yes,  she  was 
Too  kind, too  good,  for  Memory  e'er  to  slight! —  550 
Of  her,  my  dear,  my  lost  Melcena  is 
A   perfect  semblance.     O   ETERNAL  GOD  ! 
Do  have  compassion  on  thy  grey-hair'd  Servant! 
A  gain  to  him  his  darling  child  restore  ! 
The  only  living  comfort  that   remains 
To  sweeten  life's  gall-mingled  sediment ; 
The  last  supporting  pillar  now  that's  left, 
To  prop  a  few  more  years,  his  sinking  heart; 
And  keep  awhile  his  shatter'd,  tottering  frame, 
From  tumbling  into  the  engulphing  grave  / —        560 
Excuse,  O  friends,  the  vehemence  of  soul 

fr.at  interrupts  my  tedious  Narrative, 
now  proceed. Before  the  murdering  FIENDS 

Could  reach  my  bed,  my  dying  parents'    groans 
A'-lmonisli'd  me  to  fly — a  window  near  565 

Afforded  egress  to  my  shuddering    limbs  ; 
To  seek  a  neighboring  peasant's  aid,  1  van ; 
But  ere  I  reach'd  his  house,  I  heard  the  scream 
Of  murder,  mingled  with  the  Ruffians'  yell. 
In  the  dark  woods  till  morn  I  trembling  lay;         570 
Then  ventured  slowly  through  a  grove  of  trees, 
Wnich  waved  adjacent  to  my  Father's  house. 


72 


BOONE'S 


Great  God/  what  dread  emotions  then  convulsec 

My  aching  breast ;  I  thought  my  beating  heart 

Would  burst.     A  drear,  soul-sickening  silence  cast  575 

A  death-expressive  gloom  around.     In  vain 

I  hoped  to  see  my  Parents,     though  gore-stain'd, 

And  mangled  sorely  with  blood-dripping  wounds  ; 

Look  from  their  mansion-door  to  seek  their  son. 

I  fear'd  to  call,  or  nearer  to  approach  580 

The  woeful  scene  of  midnight  violence  ; 

Lest  still  the  Ruffians  might  be   lurking   there. 

The  Sun  rose  high,  my  last  faint  hope  expired  ; 

The  bosom-racking  misery  of  DESPAIR 

Now  wrung  my  anguish'ci  heart-strings,  and  I  sunk   5?>5 

T-Tpon  the  naked  earth — At  length,  I  heard 

The  voice  of  men.     I  rose,  and  saw  a  band 

Of  arm'd   militia,  marching  to  the  House ; 

And  soon  i  recognized  my  Father's  friend 

Dulonz,  to  whom,  I  faint  and  trembling  ran.  590 

He  took  my  hand,  and  led  me  to  the  Door; 

Whence,  O  soul-pieicing  sight /  I  see  it  yet .' 

We  saw  my  murder'd  parents,  lifeless,  pale  / 

I  kiss'd  their  livid  lips,  a^d  in  a    swoon, 

Sunk  senseless,  on  their  cold  and  mangled  breas 

Dulonz  convey'd  me  to  his  fiienciiy  home, 

The  guardian  of  my  infant  years,  became  : 

And  with  a  Father's  care  upon  my   heart, 

The  principles  ci  PJ.ty  impressed, 

The  light  of  Esudi'ion  o'er  my  mind,  6(,0 

In  all  its  variegated  tints  diffused, 


ADVENTURES.  T.S- 

And  carefully  my  Heritage  preserved. 

Ten  years  with  him  in  amity  I  lived, 

My  period  of  Minority  expired 

And  now,  my  fortune  to  myself  resign'd,  655 

The  nations  of  the  European  world, 

I  formed  a  resolution  to  survey, 

And  thither  sail'd.     From  court  to  court  I  went  ; 

Until  of  men  and  laws  I  knew  enough  ! 

Alas  too  much  1     Ashamed,  disgusted^sick,  61® 

At  sight  of  Perfidy,  Corruption,  Vice, 

And  Parasitic  meanness,  I  return'd 

To  Carolina's  uncorrupted  shades, 

And  wed  the  object  of  my  earliest  love, 

The  charming  daughter  of  the  kind  Dulonz.          515 

'With  her  in  fondest  quiet,  twenty  years 
Of  uncontaminated  bliss  I  pass'd. 
Two  noble  sons,  and  one  sweet  daughter  crown'd 
Our  happy  love.     But  ere  Melcena  ceased 
The  lacteal  breast  to  draw,  a  Fever  drank  620 

The  fountains  dry,  whence  flow'd  her  Mother's  life. 
Again  my  heart  with  agony  was  torn  ! 
And  ere  the  assuasive  balm  of  friendly   Time 
Could  mitigate  their  keen  afflictive  pangs, 
The  blood-effusive  Wounds  were  tortured  o'er :    625 
For  greedy  Death,  unsatisfied  with  Aer, 
Snatch'd  from  my  doating  arms  my  eldest  son  !— . 
To  banish  from  my  breast  the  clouds  of  Woe, 
That  hover'd  thick  and  black  about  my  heart, 
G 


74  BOONE S 

I  sought  the  sunny  cheer  of  social  Friends ; 
But  in  my  search  for  friends  was  much    deceived. 
Where  one  was  faithful,  ten  were  basely  false  ! 
I  found  the  Hypor.ritic  taint,  the  breath, 
The  infectious  breath  of  Europe's  poison 'd  sons, 
Had  reach'd  Columbia's  shores.     To  Solitude,        6 
To  Books,  and  to  the  instruction  of  my  son 
And  daughter,  therefore,  did  I  turn  for  peace, 
For  consolation.     These  at  times  I've  found. 
But  such  the  changeful  Fate  of  woe -born  Man, 
To  day  his  eye  with  cloudless  joy  is  bright, 
To  morrow  Misery's  blood-steep'd  tears  bedim 
Its  fading  beams;  (he  next  its  lustre  dies! 
A  faithful  Tenant  on  my  Farm  I  placed  ; 
Bade  farewell  to  my  few  unfailing  Friends ; 
And  in  these  solitary  Mountains  sought  645 

Exemption  from  the  hum  of  bustling  life. 
A  situation  suited  to  my  taste, 
A  deep  retreat,  a  picturesque  wild  I  found, 
Where  human  foot  perhaps  had  never  trod; 
Tljere  did  I  think  the  shattered  stock,  which  yet  650 
Of  my  storm-beaten  life  remain'd,  would  stand 
From  hurricanes  of  mortal  woe  secure  ; 
Until  by  Nature's  calm  decay  to  earth 
It  gently  fell — Imparting  while  alive 
Its. richest  succulence  to  the  young  shoots, 
Which  from  it  Ui  a  happier  season  sprang. 
From  SJN  and  all  its  hateful  brood  remote  ; 


ADVENTURES.  75 

1  thought  to  ingraft  upon  the  flexile  minds 

Of  my  surviving  Infants,  such  deep  love 

Of  Honesty,  Benevolence,  Virtue,  Truth, 

And  all  that  dignifies  immortal  minds ; 

l.efore  the  examples  of  the  dangerous  World 

Had  power  to  fascinate  their  youthful  hearts, 

And  slain  their  purity  ;  that  all  the  force 

Of  Hell's  allurements  should  successless  prove       665 

Their  firm-establish'd  rectitude  to  warp. 

How  far  my  hopes  would  have  been-  realized, 

Is  merely  matter  of  opinion  now. 

For  ere  through  one  complete  Decennial   course, 

The  annually  revolving  orb  of  Time  670 

Had  roll'd  my  hopeful  Charles;  by  fierce  Choctaws, 

On  the  rude  rocks  of  these  wild  Hills,  was   shed 

His  taintless  blood,  and  his  fair  body  drag'd 

Far  from  his  mourning  Father's  sad   abode. 

As  by  permission,  with  his  gun  he  scaled  675 

In  search  of  feather'd  game  the  adjoining  Mounds  ; 
The  tawny  demons  spied  the  manly  Boy 
Aud  in  his  body  lodged  the  murdering  lead. 

1  heard  the  dread  report,  the  dying  plaint, 

And  fierce  exulting  yell — But  ere  I  reach'd  680 

The  blood-suin'd  spot  the  savage  fiends  had  fled. 

2  saw  them  rising  o'er  a  distant  hill, 

Ai.d  caught  a  transient  glance  of  my  dead  BOI>, 

Whom,  with  them  they  in  hellish  triumph   bore. 

In  deep  deprossion  many  months  I  mouni'd ;          *85 


BOONE'S 


When  to  my  mansion  opportunely  came 

This  young  man's  Father,  my  warm-hearted  Frien 

DELOME.     He  learn'cl  from  my  old  servant  Ralph, 

Whom  to  the  settlement  on  horse  I'd  sent 

To  purchase  viands  for  my  simple  board ;  590 

Of  him  he  learn'cl  my  recent  loss  and  woe, 

And  journey'd  hither  through  the  forest  maze, 

To  pluck  the  thorn  of  anguish  from  my  breast, 

And  o'er  my  hills,  which  mournful  sadness  gloom'd, 

A  gleam  of  heart-enlivening  radiance   shed.  695 

He  with  him  too  his  manly  Melville  brought, 

The  melancholy  vacancy  to  fill 

Occasion'd  by  my  hapless  Charles's  Death; 

And  have,  as  my  old  friend  was  pleased  to  say, 

His  tender  mind  with  those  grave  truths  embued, 

Which  my  experience  fitted  me  to  teach. 

This  is  the  youth  of  whom  I  speak ;  the  son 

Of  my  good  friend.     When  home  his  Father  went, 

Young  Melville  staid ;  the  flush  of  thirteen  years 

His  healthy  cheek  suffused.    His  mind  was  quick,   705 

Inquiring,  strong — His  heart  vivacious,  kind; 

His  body   vigorous,  firm.     I  loved  him  muc 

And  much  he  merited  my  warmest  love  ; 

For  all  his  powers  were  ceaselessly  employe 

To  drive  dejection  from  my  drooping  heart, 

And  sweeten  my  Mclcena's  lonesome  life. 

To  h.er  his  kind  devoirs  proceeded  soon, 

From  a  diviner  source  than  mere  good  tviL 

For  soft  infantile  LOVK,  in  their  young  bre 


ADVENTURES,  77 

B  :gan   his  honey-dripping  wings  to    spread, 
And  through  their  wild-vibrating  veins  to  breathe 
Delicious  raptures,  thrilling,  tender,  strange! 
How  sweetly  I  have  seen  them  sit  beneath 
The  dark  pine-shade,  or  oak's  broad  canopy, 

•  E.x.tiMcting  the  mellifluous  quintescence 

•  C'f  Milton's  Paradise  !  at  every  melting  line 

I  \pressing  transports  with  commutual   glance, 
/..nd  interchanging  softening  sentiments, 
At  almost  every  soul-entrancing  pause  ! 

•  How  oft  I've  seen  him  climb  the  dewy   cliff, 
And  pluck  its  flowery  beauties  to  adorn 
The  unartificial  ringlets  which  o'erhung 

Her  snowy  temples.     O  !  those  days  though  dash'd 

At  times  with  bitter  Memory's  sickening  gall, 

Were  sweet,  compared  with  these  I  now  endure.  750 

O  1  then,  when  sorrow's  tear  roll'd  down  my  cheek. 

How  kindly   wculd  my  darling  wipe  it  off, 

A:id  sing  her  wildest  notes  of  soothing  song 

To  exhilarate  my  sorrow-sobbing  breast: 

.^;id  Melville  too,  to  aid  her  kind  design,  735 

The  dulcet  tones  of  his  soft-warbling  lute, 

With  her  seraphic  melody  would  pour 

In  sweet  accord.     Those  times  alas  are  past !  > 

They  lasted  though  with  little  change,  save  what 

The  increasing  years  of  the  young  lovers  brought ;  740 

Until  that  painful  period  of  Distress, 

When  from  her  Lover,  and  her  Father  too, 

-Was  torn  my  darling  daughter  1     Strangers!      You 

2 


BOONE  S 


Perhaps  ne'er  suffered  the  keen-torturing  pangs, 

Which  lacerate  in  bloody  shreds  the  heart  745 

Of  an  affectionate  Father,  when  the  grave 

Ingulphs  a  tender  child    his  bosom's  firide .' 

If  not,  you  can  but  faint  conception  form, 

Of  that  tormenting  Wo,  which  wounds  the   breast 

Of  him  who  is  by  cruel  fiends  bereft  ;  ' 

liy  savage  demons  far  more  fell  than  Death  ! 

Of  her  his  lovely,  only  living  child ! 

The  soothing  solace  of  declining  life  ! 

At  intervals  with  Edwin  and  old  Ralph ; 
Melcena,  during  several  happy  years  ' 

Was  wont  to  visit  my  dear  friend  Delonic : 
Where  with  a  small  but  pleasing  circle,  they 
In  sweet  Xinvitiated  mirth  employed 
The  pinion'd  Hours.     Returning  thence    again, 
To  me  their  blythe  felicities  they  told  j  / 

And  with  the  cheering  letters  of  Delome 
Gave  Friendship's  raptures  to  my  leaping  heart. 
The  day  at  length,  which  Was  in  Hymen's  fane 
The  virtue-kindled  Love  of  the  young  pair 
To  consecrate,  drew  near.     But  ere  their  vows      765 
Wrere  at  the  holy  altar  sealed,  once  more 
My  venerated  friend  they  visited ; 
Received  his  ready  sanction  to  their  views, 
Their  juvenile  peers  invited  to  partake 
The  nuptial  joys,  continued  a  few  weeks, 
And  then  again  their  journey  back  commenced. 


ADVENTURES.  79 

;i.s  through  the  forest's  gloomy  wilds  they  rode, 

A  band  of  Hell-excited  Villains  fierce, 

Terrific  huge  !  from  the  deep  thickets    rush'd 

With  pistols  and  with  branclish'd  broad-swords  arrn'd  ! 

With  raging  fury,  Melville's  startled  Steed  77G 

Like  thunder  through  the  sounding  thickets  burst. 

The  exploding  pistol's  sound,  which  sought  in  vain 

His  master's  life,  still  higher  rous'd  his  fire, 

And  drove  him  headlong  o'er  the  clattering  hills.    780 

The  snaggy  boughs  swept  Melville's  whistling  ear! 

His  naked  head  glanced  many  a  threatening  tree  ! 

And  verge  of  precipice  and  pit  was  broke 

At  almost  every  bound ! — Attempts  were  vain, 

The  impetuous  storm  to  check.  The  rein  was  lost!  7S5 

Still  Edwin  clinging  to  the  tossing  mane 

And  bending  to  the   Horse's  straining  neck, 

His  seat  maintain'd,  until  an  oak's  huge  branch 

Resistless,  drag'd  him  to  the  shuddering  ground. 

He  rose  unhurt:  and  o'er  the  rugged  space,          790 

To  the  disastrous  spot  where  ruffian  hands 

Had  seized  the  pleading  Maid,  with  speed  return'd, 

Resolved  to  oppose  unarm'd  the  bloody  band, 

If  there.     But  they  had  fled — he  knew  not  whither. 

Vain  was  his  eager  search  their  route  to  find  :     795 

Nor  ear,  nor  eye,  could  aught  avail,  to  give 

His  phrenzied  heart  a  clue  to  its  lost  love  !- 

O'er  hills  of  horrid  height,  and  rough  ascent, 

Fur  from  his  home-conducting  path  he  ran  ; 


80  BOONE'S 

Until  in  the  dark  tops  of  towering  pines  800 

Began  to  sink  the  westering  prince  of  light. — 
Convinced,  unless  he  sought  the  pathway  soon, 
That  NIGHT  would  hold  him  in  the  Hemlock  gloom  r 
And  waste  the  time  which  then  was  dear  as  life  ; 
He  swiftly  traversed  hack  the  desert-steeps;  8 

Regained  the  path  before  the  ascending  shades, 
Had    o'er  the  beetling  peaks  their  squadrons    rollY:  ; 
And  ere  my  head  was  on  its  pillow  laid, 
The  dreadful  bosom-rending  tale    announc'd. 
If  on  my  naked  heart  the  fiercest  flames  > 

Of  burning  pitch  had  been,  in  pointed  stream 
Profusely  pour'd,  and  all  its  feeling  kept 
Alive,  the  pain  would  hardly  have  surpassed 

What  rack'd  my  bosom  on  that  woe-fraught  night  ! 

When  o'er  my  cottage,  morning's  early  gleam       8 1 5 

Was  shed;  I  hasten'd  Ralph  to  good  Delome, 

With  a  request  to  gather  with  all  speed 

A  company  of  men  to  aid  our  search. 

Then  Melville  and  myself  our  arms  prepared 

And  hither  to  these  rocky  ridges  hitd, 

Conceiving  them  to  be  a  fit  abode 

Of  predatory  ruffians.     The  whole  day, 

In  diligent  but  unsuccessful   search 

We  spent.     This  Night,  as  on  a  lofty   peak 

We  lay;  your  gun's  deep-ringing  peal  we  heard, 

And  then  ascenuiag  a  still  higher  clifl' 

Your  fire  espied.     Thus,  Sirs,  in  brief  contour, 


BOONE'S 


SI 


The  features  of  my  misadventured  life 

I've  sketch'd. — Your  friendly  coadjuvancy 

In  our  momentous  quest  shall  gratitude,  830 

.vnd  prayers  for  your  felicity  receive." 

Thus  answer'd  Boone — Our  aid  we'll  freely  grant. 
Conduct  us  where  your  wisdom  may  advise, 
Nor  cliff,  nor  cavern  shall  be  unexplored. 


THE 


ADVENTURES 


OF 


DANIEL  BOONE. 


BOOK  III. 


ARGUMENT. 

AT  morning's  approach,  Boone  and  his  associate* 
unite  with  Viilosko  and  Melville,  in  search  of  Melccna. 
I  to  15.  While  traversing  the  forests  they  discover 
Vonploor,  one  of  the  Allegany  Robbers,  covered  with 
blood  and  enfeebled  by  wounds.  15  to  31.  He  gives  a 
brief  detail  of  his  hfe,  and  relates  the  cause  of  his 
wretched  situation,  from  which,  they  learn  that  Melccna 
has  probably  escaped  from  her  Captors.  31  to  129. 
•Animated  with  the  intelligence,  they  convey  him  to  Vu- 
losfco's  Cottage,  where,  according  to  their  anticipation, 
they  find  Delome  attended  by  an  auxiliary  force,  await 
ing  their  arrival.  129  to  272.  At  the  dawn  of  the  n-xt 
day,  having  received  necessary  directions  from  Vonpi^or, 
they  proceed  to  the  Ridge  in  which  the  ruffians  huve 
their  subterraneous  abode.  JVot far  distant  thence,  while 
seated  in  consultation,  they  are  transported  by  the  pre 
sence  of  the  LOS?  MAID  ;  who,  after  the  first  emothna 
of  extacy  subside,  relates  the  history  of  her  escape  and 
anxieties.  172  to  321.  At  the  close  of  h^r  recital  the 
whole  Company,  Vulosko,  Melccna  and  Melville  exccpt- 
ed,  hasten  to  the  Robbers'  Cavern,  and  surprise  t/<em 
while  en  gaged  in  the  dissection  of  a  slaughtered  Buffalo. 
321  to  336.  Several  are  slain,  and  the  rest  captured. 
336  to  397.  The  Cavern  explored  and  described.  402 
to  448.  The  ensuing  night  is  passed  in  the  Robbers'  Tent' 
The  sleepers  are  awakened  by  a  dreadful  tempest. 
The  sole  remaining  Thief  arrives  and  is  taken.  448  to 
548.  Having  returned  to  Vulosko' s  Cottage,  Melville 
and  Melcena  are  married;  after  which,  Bo  one  and  hit 
companions  bid  farewell  and  proceed  on  their  journey. 


THE 

ADVENTURES 

OF 

DANIEL   BOONE. 

BOOK  III. 


THE  Queen  of  morn,  in  crimson  robes  array'd, 
The  shadow-woven   curtains  now  withdrew 
From  round  her  roseate  couch,  and  lilting  high 
Above  the  Orient  God  her  blushing  cheek. 
Soft,  amorous  smiles,  upon  him  cast,  and  woo'd         5 
Him  from  his  blazing  chamber — Boone  advised, 
Though  dappled  darkness  yet  had  not  retired 
From  the  drear  dingle's,  Hill-o'er  shadowM  deeps, 
To  march  forthwith  on  the  important  search. 
Vulosko  seconded  the  advice,  and  said,  If 

'Twas  best  they  should,  so  shape  their  course  that  day, 
As  at  his  home  that  evening  to  arrive, 
Where  he  expected  they  would  find  Delome 
With  an  assistant  force.     'Twas  so  agreed  ; 
And  o'er  the  dew-bathed  rocks  they  onward  went.   15 
Some   miles  they  journey'd  o'er  the  frowning  crags 


80  BOOXE S 

And  oak-crown'd  Hills  ;  when  from  a  glady  dell 
Borne  on  the  flickering  breeze,  a  doleful  moan 
Their  ears  alarm'd!     In  still  suspense    they    stood— 
It  came  again — Its  source  with  cautious  step  20 
They  sought,  and  found  enveloped  in  stiff  gore, 
Exhausted,  ghastly,  pale,  a  wounded  Wretch 
Upon  the  cold  and  humid  earth  out  stretch'd. 
His  blood-disfigur'd  head  he  feebly  rais'd, 
His  pain-swol'n  eyes  upon  the  strangers  turn' 
And  piteously  their  kind  relief  implored. 
They  bore  him  to  a  distant  stream,  assuaged 
With  cooling   draughts  his  fever-heated  thirst, 
The  burning  of  his  blister'd  tongue  allay'd, 
His  fester'd  wounds  deterg'd,  and  to  them  bounc 
The  juicy  leaves  of  herbs  medicinal. 
His  languid  powers  in  some  degree  revived, 
They  now  inquired  what  was  the  hapless  cause 
Of  his  adverse  condition.     He  replied: 
My  generous  Benefactors,  you  behokl 
In  me  a  man  deserving  direst  Death  ! 
'Tis  meet,  thus  on  Eternity's  dark   verge, 
And  soon  to  face  the  Almight;.               1  bar, 
That  I  should  cease,  by  j;es  or 
To  add  to  that  soul-sinking  load. 
That  burns  e'en  now  with  Hell's  h- 
But  oh  kind  Strangers  !  sp 

Which  yet  of  my  most  wre'-.ucd  life   remains; 
That  I  may  all  its  fervors  dedicate, 


HUT  sin, 
guilt 

L  flames,  my  heart ! 
waning  spark 


I 


ADVENTURES.  87 

To  pleading  with  the  good  benevolent    Gocl,  45 

,Yho  heard  the  death-doom'd  Thief,  that  with  hinj  hung 
pon  the  cruel  cross,  and  spared  the  suppliant's  soul." 
Wliiie  thus  he  spake,  conflicting  hopes,  and    fears, 
With  agitation  shook,   the  anxious    breasts 
Of  Melville  and  Vulosko.     He   continued. 
*•  I  once    had  honor,    credit,  wealth,  and  friends; 
But  by   MISCHANCE   was  of  my  ri-lics  robb'd 
And   all  the  rest  soon  fled.     My  creditors, 
Though  few  were  hard — they  plunged  me  into  prison  ; 
I   swore  Insolvency  and  was   released.  55 

My  Friends  grew  cold,  and  .Scorn's  contemptuous  sneer, 
And  pitiless  grin,  iny  morbid  heart  clisturb'd, 
Where'er  I  went. — INTEMPERANCE  promised  peace  ; 

At  least  some  respite  from  oppressive   pain. 

wed  the  infernal  Piostitute,  and    soon,  60 

n  deepest  Poverty,  and  Vice,  was  whelm'd. 

To  save  myself  from  drear  duress   again, 

A    league  of  predatory  Rogues  J    joined 

ho  in  these   Mountains  have  a  crag-hid  Cave 
la  whicii  they  live  and  hoard  their  spoils."  "Oh  God!"  65 

In  extacy,   Vulosko  cried.     "  Oh  G;>d  ! 

We  adore  thy  Mercy,   thy    Benignity, 
11-gracious  Father,  humbly   we  adore  ! 

Thou  wilt  again  restore  our  bosom's  love  ! 

Then  eager  Melville  thus.    u  Unfortunate  man  I       70 

Proceed  and  tell  the  fate  of  that  sweet  Maid, 

vVnom  late,  tVo.n  Happiness  and  Peace  you  tore  : 


: 

1 
W 


A 

T 


BOONE'S 


Oh  quickly  tell!"     The  astonish'd  wretch  resumed: 

"  Oh  Jjirs  !  you  rend  my  heart  with  wounds  more  deep 

More  poignantly  severe  than  those  which  pain         75 

My  mangled  body.     The  emotions  shewn 

In  your  expressive  voice  and  looks,  evince, 

That  she,  the  Maid  whose  fate  you  wish  to    Je 

Is  by  Affection's  tender  ties,  to  you, 

In   close  endearment  bound.     It  makes  to  me, 

My  shame,  my  infamy  more  horrible  ; 

That  they  whom  to  injure  most  I've  taken  part 

Are  those  who  can  such  generous  kindness  she 

Your  pious  firaise,  when  painfully  oppress'd 

By  heavy  woe,  the  Heaven-daring   sins 

Of  my  ungrateful  soul  by  contrast  paints, 

In  colors  black  as  Hell's  Tartarean  shades. 

Of  that  unhappy  Maiden's  dreadful  state, 

I  can  but  little  say-     Not  far  we'd  gone 

From  the  accursed  spot,  where  first  our  gri 

Her  lovely  limbs  cngrasp'd  ;  when  to  the  charge 

Of  one  more  ruffian  and  myself  was  given 

The   weeping  Innocent.     To  us  bdorig'd, 

To  bear  her  on  to  the  infernal  den, 

The  magazine  of  our  unvended  spoil  : 

While  o'er  a  different  route  our  comrades  spe 

A  small  division  of  our  band  to  meet, 

Who  were  with  plunder  and   provisions   laden, 

And  from  the  settlement  a  smoother  \v.iy 

Pursued.  As  through  this  dreary  glade  we  impel'd 


ADVENTURES. 

iie  pity-supplicating  Captive  on  ; 
1  [y  fellow-ruffian  rudely  shock'd  her  ear 
With  language  lewd,  indecent,  taunting,  base ! 
A  bandou'd,  guilty,  harden'd  as   I   was; 
My  soul  such  shameful   cruelty  abhor'd.  105 

tbacle  him  cease  !     With  huffish  air  he   swore, 
is  tongue  should  never  brook  restraint  in  Hell, 
' 
Inch  less  on  earth.     And  -as  he  spake  he  grasp'd 

I  i  his  unmanner'd  arms  the  shrieking  Maid. 
My  Indignation  rose,  I  seized  him  fast,  1 10 

And  broke  his  ruffian  gripe.     He  drew  his  sword ; 
Mine  too  was  instantaneously  unsheathed: 
With  wrathful  clash  they  met,  and  adverse  thrusts, 
From  mutual  wounds,  brought  adverse  spouts  of  blood. 
Hot  raged  the  fray,  until  my  dexter  arm  115 

A  deep,  relaxing  gash  received,  and  dropM 
Its  reeking  steel. — Our  pistols  were  uncharged; 
My  cursed  antagonist  now  felt  scour:', 
And  turn'd  triumphantly  around  to  claim 
lie  beauteous  TROPHY — When  behold  she'd  fled  .'    120 

eye  at  distance  caught  her  snowy   form, 
As  near  the  margin  of  the  open  vale  she  sought 
With  timid  speed,  an  ample  laurel  brake. 
Tiie  rage-invigorated  Demon   ran 

In  swift  pursuit,  although -with  the  red  streams     125 
Which  issued  from  his  wounds,  his  foot-steps  smoked. 
But  ere  the  glade's  bloom-purpled  edge  he  reach'd 
She  pierc'd  the  mazy  thickets  virent  gloom. 

2 


f\ 

l 


BOONE  S 


He  disappear'd — No  more  I  saw  or  heard." 

"  Oh  then,"  Vulosko  ardently    cxclaim'cl 

"  Perhaps  my  darling  daughter  has    escaped 

The  stygian  pit  which  threaten'd  to    engulph 

Her  mortal  peace  !     Oh  God  !  she  yet  may  live 

Beneath  thy  hallow'd  wing  protected,  safe 

From  Hell's  horrific  fiends  !  Let's  haste,  my  friend 

HOPE  whispers  sweetly  to  my  sorrowing  heart ! 

O  !  if  she  has  eluded  the  pursuit 

Of  her  Satanic  foe,  she  may  e'en   now 

Beneath  the  shelter  of  her  humble    home, 

Or  in  the  solitary  forest-shade, 

Be  pouring  Gratitude,  to  that  great  God, 

To  whom,  her  kind  deliverance  she  owes. 

As  speedily  as  possible,  let's  learn 

Her  situation ;  if  'in  these  mountain-wilds 

She  wanders  lost ;  although  a  paradise 

Compared  to  the  tartarean  den  she  scap'd ; 

A  thousand  terrors  yet  must  agitate 

Her  timid  heart,  and  render  quick  relief 

Supremely  grateful.     But,  which  Heaven  forbid  ! 

But,  if  she  groans  a  victim  to  the  power 

Of  those  predaceous  Villains  ;  Hell  itself, 

Could  scarce  her  pain  augment,  or  render  aid 

More  needful.     Then  'tis  meet  that  every   nerve 

Should  to  the  tardy  task  exertion  lend, 

Of  bearing  hence  this  wounded,  hapless  man  !" 

Of  flexile  boughs  a  litter  soon  they  wove, 


\ 


145 


I 
155 


ADVENTURES, 

bore  the  penitential   wretch. — 
commanding  summit  of  a  rich 
1-unpaling  pinnacles  o'erlook 
The  wide-expanded  stretch  of  all  the    Hills  16&> 

between  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific  Seas, 
'ie  pointed  to  their  view  the  craggy  mound 
In  which  the  Robbers  had  their  dark  abode. — 
Just  as  the  sun  his  flaming  face  had  bow'd 
Behind  the  AHeganean  peaks,  they  reach'd 
Vulosko's  lowly  cottage.     There   Delome 
In  waiting  with  a  little   host  they  found  ; 
But  no  Melcena's  animating  smiie 
The  Father's  and  the  Lover's  hopes  confiimM. 
In  converse  on  the  theme  of  high  concern  17Q 

The  melancholy  evening  linger'd  off', 
And  Night  to  necessary  rest  was   given. 

At  morning's  dewy  dawn  the  dauntless   band 
Arose  innerv'd ;   resolved  ere  night  to  burst 
The  infernal  bolts  that  bar'd  the  rock-arch'd  gate,   ITS 
Through  which  to  their  dark  subterranean  den 
The  hellish  plunderers  pass'd.     Old  Ralph  was  left 
To  nurse  Vonploor,  the  wounded  Penitent ; 
From  whom  directions  were  obtain'cl,  by  which 
Our  Heroes  best  the  horrid  cave  could    find.          180 
Before,  the  flaming  wings  of  flying  Day, 
Had  from  the  mountain's  breezy  summit  brush'd 
The  morning's  sparkling  dews,  the  midway  steeps, 
With  vigorous  tread,  the  little  phalanx  scaled  : 


92 


And  as  the  culminating  orb  of  noon, 

Roll'd  blazing  on  the  equinoctial   plane, 

Their  breasts  they  bent  high   o'er  the  steepy  Kxo 

Of  the  rough  Robber-sheltering  RIDGE'S  side. 

When  its  cloud-shouldering  summit  they  attain'd 

In  consultation  on  a  shaded  rock  19 

They  sat;  and   lo !  before  them;  wildly  pale 

Her  dark-brown,  breeze-buoy'cl  locks,  disorcler'd,  loose 

Swift-gliding  through  the  storm-disniember'd  shru 

And  thunder-riven  rocks,  in  torn    attire. 

The  lost,  the  unexpected   MAID  appeared!  195 

Vulosko  cried, u  GREAT  GOD!  MY  CHILD!  MY  CHILD  !'' 

And  Melville  too  exclaim'd  aloud,  MY  LOVE! 

MY  DEAR  MELCENA!     HOLY  GOD  OF  HEAVEN, 

MY  ANGEL  LIVES  .'     And  both  with  phrenzied  joy 

And  rapturous  agitation  ran  to  meet  200 

The  sweet  transported  Maid  ;    who  heard  and  kn 

The  dear-remembered  voice;  and  speechless  met 

Their  loved  embrace — A  soul-entrancing  scene, 

A  warmly -melting  time  of  ter.derest  joy 

Of  Heaven-infused,  o'erwhdming  bliss,  it  was  ! 

A  clown  Vulosko's  sorrow-channel':!  cheek 

The  tears  of  fond  paternal  extacy 

In  rills  translucent  stream'd — In  thrilling  tran 

Both  Melville  and  Melcena  sweetly   wept. 

The  silent  transports,  the  delicious  gush 

Of  their  fond  meeting  o'er ;  first  having  told 

What  information  from  Vonploor  they'd  gain'cl  ; 


ADVENTURE3.  93 

With  ardent  eagerness,  the  doating  Father 

And  tender  Lover  tremblingly  inquired, 

What  horrors,  pains  and  fears  she'd    undergone,     215 

Since  the  disastrous  hour  that  ruffian  hands, 

With  hellish  violence,  her  angel    limbs 

Kngrasp'd.     The  languid  Beauty  thus  replied. 

"  My  dear,  my  ever  kind  affectionate  friends! 

The  God  whose  thunder  smites  these  ragged  rocks, 

His  holy  power  has  kindly  interposed  221 

To  save  me  from  the  most  unhappy  doom 

That  Demons  could  devise,  than  dreadcst  dtath 

A  thousand  times  more  dire ! 

The  steely  clash 

No  sooner  had  commenced  between  Vonploor       225 
And  the  infuriate  fiend  with  whom  he   fought, 
Than  from  them  with  my  utmost  speed  I  fled. 
By  crouching  closely  to  the  mossy  earth, 
Deep  in  the  laurel  brake's  anfractuous  maze, 
The  conquering  Villain's  curs'cl  pursuit  I  scaped.     230 
Enchanting  as  a  blooming    paradise 
The  gloomy  desert  then  to  rue  appeared. 
But  still  to  annoy  my  fluttering  bosom's  peace, 
My  Melville's  fate  and  Father's  frantic    woe 
Continually  were  present  to  my  mind.  235 

For  much  I  feared  my  LOVE'S  impetuous  steed 
With  furious  rage  had  dashed  him  on  the  rocks. 
Or  burst  nis  head  against  some  fatal  tree. — 
As  NIGHT  from  the  deep  dingles  darkening   rose, 


94  BOONE  S 

Forth  from  a  thousand  dreary  caverns  crept 

Her  bestial  brood.      From  hill  to  hill  their  howl 

And  blood-congealing;  cries  were   wildly  pour'd— 

Now  scatter'd  widely  o'er  the  murky  waste, 

The  glare-eyed  Prowlers  vent  their  echoing  yells — 

Now  gather'd  in  terrific  groupes  they   growl,         245 

They  grin  and  gnash  their  teeth,  while  glyns  and  hills 

Reverberate  the  wild  vociferous  sounds. 

In  unremitted  dread  the  livelong  night 

I  pass'd :  each  moment  menaced  me  wrh  death. 

The  panting  Wolves  and  whining  Panthers  paced  2.5  0 

Almost  incessantly  around  the  spot, 

Where  'till  the  rise  of  dawn  I  trembling  lay. — 

The  morning  beams  drove  to  their  dismal  dens 

The  deathful  herds. — I  rose,  in  hopes  ere  night 

To  find  the  path  that  would  conduct  me  home  : 

But  what  direction  I  had  best  pursue 

I  did  not  know.     For  all  around  me,  spread 

A  frowning  forest,  mountainous  and   vast, 

In  which  my  senses  were  bewildered,  lost. 

The  cheering  sun  secm'd   in  the  south  to  rise         2  JQ 

And  change  his  blazing  orbit  towards  the   North. 

Hood-wink'd   Conjecture  was  my   only  guide; 

She  pointed  out  her  way,  and  on  I  went, 

Slow-winding  through  the  luurel-t/ngicd  brakes, 

And  o'er  the  lofty,  rough,  and  rock-brow'd  hilis,   2 

But  found  my  blird  conductress  led  me  wrong. 

Again  the  day-beams  ceas'd  to  illume  the  wilds  ; 


ADVENTURES.  95 

/.gain  the  night  in  sleepless  fear  I  pass'd. 

Another  morning  shon^,  another   day 

I  oll'd  tediously  away;  again  the  shades  270 

Of  howling  darkness  hung  upon  the  Hills, 

And  found  me  still  bewildered  in  the  waste. 

The  air  was  warm,  exhausted  Nature  claimed 

The  renovating  aid  of  friendly  rest. 

I  rak'd  beneath  a  rock  a  couch  of  leaves,  275 

On  which  my  wearied  system  sunk  to  sleep; 

The  Owl's  drear  hoot,  the  Wolf's  distressful  howl 

Invaded  not  my  drc  im-disturb'd  repose. — 

Until  the  sunny  streams  of  smiling  clay 

Pour'd  warmly  on  my  dew-damp'd  cheek,  I  slept.  280 

I  then  arose,  and  wandered  on  again 

Almost  despairing  e'er  to  find  the  path, 

Or  pass  the  wildering  Forest's  frightful  bounds  : 

N"t  distant  hence,  more  than  a  mile  or  two; 

As  o'er  the  steeps  of  this  stupendous  ridge  285 

I  clambered,  lo !  among  the  rudest  cliffs 

"Which  crown  its  craggy  brow,  all  red  with    blood, 

The  horrid  Villains,  whose  infernal  hands 

First  drag'd  me  from  your  tender  love,  I  saw! 

From  the  huge  body  of  some  slaughter'd   Beast,  290 

The  smoking  hide  they  tore — With  shuddering  fear 

Their  dread  vicinity  I  quickly  fled, 

And  had  not  yet  my  trembling  flight  relax'd, 

When  your  enrapturing  voice  announced  relief 

From  all  the  horrors  that  appall'd  my  soul.  29S 


96  BOONE  S 

O  my  dear  friends  !  your  presence  pours  a  flood 

Of  sweet  felicity  upon  my  heart; 

And  thence  has  swept  away  the  waves 

Of  dark  and  terrible  Despair,  which  drown'd 

My  Hopes,  and  bred  DISTRACTION'S  lizard  Brood  SCO 

In  crawling  myriads  through  my  dreary  Breast ! 

Since  we  departed  from  thy  Father's  House 

My  Melville  !  no  refreshing  nourishment 

Beside  the  mountain-stream  has  touch'd  my    lips." 

"  Excuse,  excuse,  my  dear/"  in  tenderest  tones,  305 

The  weeping  Melville  hastily  exclaim'd  ; 

Our  seeming  negligence.     O'er-powering  joy 

At  meeting  thus  our  Love  alive,  unharm'd  .' 

And  anxious  eagerness  to  hear  detail'd 

The  scenes  through  which  you  pass'd,  our  souls  a 

And  all  attention  to  your  present    wants 

Precluded.     She  aver'd  the  joy  express'd 

In  their  endearing  extacy,  convey'd 

A  more  enlivening  comfort  to  her  heart, 

Than  all  the  pleasures  which  the  sensual   world    315 

Could  give,  and  that  she  felt  keen  Hunger's   looth 

As  little  then,  as  when  they  left  Delome's, 

So  had  their  presence  JiWd  with  bliss  her  soul  / 

Vulosko,  while  she  spake,  spread  on  a  rock 

Moss-carpeted,  the  little  store  of  food  320 

Their  scrip  supplied,  and  bade  his  daughter  eat. 

Boone  now  advised  without  delay  to  march 

And  seize  or  slay  the  Robbers  ere  again 


ADVENTURES.  97 

T.ieir  Den  they  enter'd  : — all  forthwith  agreed. — 
IVJelcena  pointed  out  their  course,  and  on  325 

T  iey  hasten'd  leaving  her  behind  in  care 
O  '  Melville  and  Vulosko,  who  both  burn'd 
T )  aid  in  the  avcngement  of  her  woes. 
But  through  her  tender  importunities 
Supported  by  the  united  voice  of  all, 
T  iey  were  at  length  prevail'd  upon  to  stay. 
Tie  little  host  soon  reach'd  the  craggy  piles 
"Which  shelter'd  the  predaceous  band,  and  soon 
They  saw  the  Ruffians  closely  clustering  round 
A  butcher'd  Buffalo,  with  reeking  arms  335 

Deep  plunging  in  the  dead  Beast's  bloody  bowels. 
While  thus  the  unsuspecting  Villains  plied 
Their  sanguinary  work ;  our  Heroes  ken'd 
The  entrance  of  their  subterraneous  Den, 
And  secretly  its  open  Gate  approach'd.  340 

'Twas  not  their  wish  the  guilty  fiends  to  kill; 
But  sieze  and  offer  them  a  sacrifice 
To  offended  JUSTICE,  on  tho  sacred  Altar 
Of  stern  impartial  LAW — With  this  intent, 
Perceiving  that  the  Robbers  were  unarm'd  ;  345 

A  part  remain'd  to  guard  the  gate,  and  part 
Crept  slyly  on  to  seize  the  unwary  foe — 
When  from  behind  the  intervening  rocks 
The  .Ruffians  saw  the  approaching  band  emerge ; 
They  wildly  ran  for  refuge  towards  the  wood,       350 
Whose  gloomy  borders  bound  the  southern  side 

I 


§8  BOONE  S 

Of  the  stupendous,  rock-built  Battlements. 

Our  Heroes  follow'd  on  in  swift  pursuit; 

And  as  the  Villains  raised  a  craggy   ledge, 

Boone  and  Delome  gave  word  to  Fire  !  and  Hills  35 

And  Ravines  with  the  death-fraught  thunders  roar  d, 

And  all  the  flying  Wretches  fell,  save  five. 

These  were  pursued,  and  three  were,  quickly  seized. 

So  fast  their  unarrested  fellows  fled 

That  all  fell  short  in  the  pursuit  save   Boone —     360 

He  unfatigued  and  ardent,  drop'd  his  Gun  and  pouch, 

And,  like  the  springing  Stag,  with  vigorous  speed 

Press'd  swiftly  on,  and  drew  at  every  bound 

Still  nearer  to  the  straining  Caitiffs'    heels. 

They  chang'd  their  course,  and  sought  by  stratagem 

Their  fleet  pursuer's  valorous  life  to  end — 

The  mighty  mountain  broke  abruptly  off 

Near  by ;  and  form'd  a  precipice  immense, 

Of  awful  height,  and  aspect  rough  and  dark. 

To  its  rock-frowning  verge  the  Ruffians  ran; 

And  wheeling  round,  sprang  furiously  at  Boone  ; 

Who,  so  impetuous  was  his  keen  pursuit, 

Had  not  the  dread  abyss  disceru'd,  but   met 

Their  rageful  might !     In  vigorous  grapplement 

Upon  the  dizzy  brink,  with  equal  power  375 

A  while  they  tugg'd ;  but  soon  with  forceful    blow, 

Boone  fcll'd  the  stoutest  Ruffian  to  the  ground, 

And  eve  he  rose,  precipitately  down 

The  dreadful  steep  his  fellow  demon  hurl'd 


ADVENTURKS. 


F  om  crag  to  crag  with  headlong  force  he  fell;    380 
His  blood  and  brains  bespattering,  as  he  smote 
Their  jutting  points — His  horrid  dying   groan 
And  last  tremendous   curse  were  vented,  ere 
Lis  batter'd  body  sunk  one  third  the  gulph. 
Aghast,  through  the  wild  gloom,  his  haggard  ghost  385 
All  horror-giddy  flew,  while  round  it   wheel'd, 
Like  hungry  Condors   round  their  fluttering  prey, 
1 1  clattering  circles,  claw-stretch'd,  skinny,   fierce, 
Grim  flocks  of  Hell's  black  Imps,  a  dire  escort  ! 
And  drag'd  it  screaming  to  their  dark  Domains  !   390 
With  ease,  Boone  managed  now  the  fironlrate  Wretch ; 
Behind  his  back  his  brawny  hands  he  bound, 
And  forced  him  on,  to  where  his  fellow  fiends, 
Some  dead,  some  gasping  out  their  dying  breath, 
And  others  miserably  participant 
Of  his  own  frightful  but  deserved  fate, 
Lay  gory  on  the  blood-encrimson'd  rocks — 

To  animate  the  triumphs  of  the  day, 
Delome  in  haste  a  messenger  dispatch'd, 
To  bring  Vulosko  and  the  enamor'd  pair : 
Who  soon  arrived  and  hail'd  their  Friends'  success— 
To  explore  the  murky  cavern's  rock-arch'd  vaults? 
Now  the  united  band  in  haste  prepare. 
With  glaring  flambeaux  down  its  dark   descent 
They  pass'd — a  gloomy  dank  and  drear  abode        405 
k  was;  which  suited  well  u  murderer's  soul! 
Its  darkness  seem'd  from  stygian  dungeons  drawn : 


100  BOOVE 

A  thousand  elfish  ECHOES  muttering  deep, 

With  mincing  mockery  issued  back  each  sound 

That  floated  through  the  gloom.  With  Wizard  GROAKSJ 

And  grinning  GNOMES,  to  Fancy's  phrenzied  ear     411 

And  wild  distorted  eye,  the  darksome  Den 

Seem'd  thickly  fill'd. — Broad  horror-sounding  sheets 

Of  Petrifaction,  from  the  arches  hung; 

To  which  the  trembling  hand  of-  timid  FEAR          415 

Would  cautiously  approach ;  lest  some  rude  touch 

Might  shake  their  hoarsely-hollow  ringings  forth ; 

And  rouse  the  fierce,  fire-belching  Monsters  up, 

The  red-eyed  FURIES,  and  grim  Dragons  huge, 

To  fill  with  yellings,  slaughter,  flames  and  blood,  4*20 

With  sulphurous  stench,  and  rock-convulsing  roar, 

The  subterranean  clefts,  and  thundering    vaults  ! 

When  to  the  dark  declivity's  extreme, 
They  wound  their  way  a  level  room  received 
Within  its  vast  caliginous  expanse, 
The  adventurous  Heroes.     Here  they  saw  the  spoils 
Of  many  a  midnight  pillage,  rudely    stored. 
Here  rusted  rifles,  blood-stain'd  scimitars, 
And  numerous  horrid  implements  of  Death, 
On  every  hand  promiscuously   appeared. 
Huge,  shaggy  Bear-skins,  brindled  Buffalo-hides, 
The  long-prong'd  Antlers  of  the  slaughter'd    Elk, 
The  Wolf's  grim  jaws,  the  Panther's  spotted  pelt, 
And  paws,  and  horns,  and  claws,  and  bones,  and  sculls, 
•Vid  all  the  gore-smear'd spoils  that  crown  the  chace,  435 


ADVENTURES. 

Y/ere  seen  uncouthly  strewn  around. 

^  nd  here  with  Gold  and  Silver  coinage  filled, 

Two  wooden  coffers  stood;  the  hellish  hoard 

Of  horrid  Homicidal  villainy! 

Through  each  compartment,  nook,  and  noisome  cell  440 

I  Caving  now  the  ruffian  residence  explored, 

Our  Heroes  thence  the  treasur'd  pelf  removed; 

And  into  equal  parcels  so  arranged, 

That  with  facility  it  might  be  borne, 

To  where  their  future  pleasure  should  direct.        445 

They  next  the  corses  of  the  Caitiffs  slain, 

Deposit  in  the  dank  and  rayless  Den, 

And  change  their  habitation  to  a  grave  ! — 

The  sun   had  now  his  daily  round  perform'd, 
And  Twilight  riding  o'er  the  mountain  peaks,       450 
In  her  soft  dusky  Car,  the  starry  gems 
That  beautify  her  concave  Canopy 
Disclosed,  and  warn'd  our  Heroes   to    prepare 
A  lodging  for  the  Night.     An  ample  Tent,   [spread  ; 
With    broad-leaf 'd    boughs  and  beech- wood  bark  o'er. 
In  which  the  ruffian  Robbers  sometimes  lodg'd,     456 
Stood  near  the  cavern's  mouth;  a  shelter  snug 
From  rains  and  dewy  damps.     Our  Heroes  there, 
To  pass  the  Night  prepared.     A  row  of  Lamps, 

Suspended  from  the  ridge-pole  of  the  tent,  460 

Were  lighted,  and  the  prisoners  well  secured : 

'hen  all  to  rest  resign'd.     Around  the  place, 
Mild   Slumber  shed  her  sweet  nectarean  dews ; 
2 


102  BOONE'S 

On  every  eye  the  honied  droppings  fell, 
Except  the  restless  Captives' — They,  nor  sleep, 
Nor  one  alleviating  pause  from  pain, 
Experienced  through  the  lingering  lead-wing'd  Night 
Some  hours  in  calm  repose  the  Sleepers  pass'd; 
Bat  ere  one  half  of  her  nocturnal  course 
The  ceaselessly  revolving  globe  had  roll'd  ; 
A  deep  impetuous  burst  of  thunder  fell 
With  awful  fury  on  their  startled  ears ; 
And  dreaming  Fancy's  silken  finery  tore, 
And  all  her  glittering-  glassy  fabrics   broke. 
The  awaken'd  Slumberers  rose — With  raging  roar  47  5 
The  winds  lash'd  to  and  fro  the  crashing  trees. 
As  black  as  collied  exhalations,  hung 
Thick  hovering  o'er  the  howling  Hills,  a  Cloud 
Tumultuous,  huge.     Like  Niagara's  flood, 
As  down  the  foaming  steep  abrupt  it  sinks, 
The  fury-agitated  tempest  roar'd. 
Along  its  black  convolving  billows  blaz'd, 
The  barbed  flashes  of  electric  flame. 
Down  through  the  accumulating  masses  roll'd, 
With  louder  violence,  the  vollied  peals.  485 

Great  Allegany's  towering  turrets  rock'd  ; 
'The  forest  monsters  whined,  and  howl'd  with   fear— 
Imagination's  wide-expanded  eye, 
Beheld  the  awful  Angel  of  the    storm, 
In  black  tempestuous  terrors  thickly  clothed  ; 
Fierce  lashing  with  tremendous  wings  the  clouds, 


ii_. 


ADVENTURES. 


.And  rolling  through  the  glooms,  the  flaming    balls 
C.i'  dreadful  lightning — Now  descending  down 
The   storm,  in  the  hoarse  thunder's  circling  gurge, 
Now  rising  swiftly  up  the  murky  Vast,  495 

The  furious  Genius  cleaves  the  broad  expanse, 
And  drives  against  the  Hills  from  either  wing, 
Repeated  blasts  of  desolating  STOKM, 
With  bolted  vengeance  charg'd ;   uprooting  towers 
Of  rocks,  and  tearing  trees  wide-branching,  huge,  500 
From  their  old  beds.     Around  the  Cavern's  mouth, 
In  every  sweeping  gust,  the  cries  and  groans 
Of  woe-distracted  ghosts  seem'd  wildly  mixed. 
From  their  big  reservoirs,  the  ponderous  clouds 
A  Vide  o'er  the  Hills,  a  streaming  deluge  pour'd  ;       505 
From  cliffs  to  cliffs  the  tumbling  torrents  gush'd, 
And  turgent,  down  the  distant  dingles  roar'd. 
While  thus  throughout  the  elemental  world, 
The  violent  tumultuation  raged, 

And  ghostly  horrors  seem'd  to  howl  around;         510 
A  ghastly  Figure  gore-grim'd,  tall,  and  wan, 
Came  limping  to  the  entrance  of  the  Tent 
And  instantly  fled  back !     Each  Hero's  hand 
F-ngrasp'd  his  Gun,  each  eye  gaz'd  on  the  gloom, 
And  by  the  lightning's  coruscation    saw,  515 

The  meagre  miscreant  enter  the  drear  Den. 
They  lighted  by  a  lamp,  a  faggot  huge, 
And  Boone  led  on  through  the  sepulchral  vaults 
The  perilous  pursuit.*   At  every  step, 


104  BOONE  3 

Rough  clattering  thunders  shook  the  impending  rocks. 
With  rude  disruption  and  disordering  crash  521 

Were  menaced*  the  stupendous  shuddering  walls, 
And  roaring  arches  !     Grisly  grin'd  around 
The  ruffian  Corses,  pallid,  swollen,  stiff! 
Death-damps  upon  their  dismal  visages 
With  spectral  beams,  and  livid  glimmerings  shon 
The  affrighted  WRETCH,  as  on  our  Heroes  press'c 
The  gore-incrusted  carcases  beheld  : 
Fear-quaking,  to  the  farthest  nook  he  crept  ; 
The  shallow  current  of  his  veins  was  chill'd. 
All  wildly  horrent  stood  his  creeping  hair  I 
His  swollen  protruded  eyes  with  horror  stared  ; 
Convulsively  his  cracking  teeth  were  clench'd, 
And  all  his  limbs  with  chilly  shudderings  shook  ! 
At  the  pursuers'  feet  o'erpowered  he  fell.  535 

They  bore  him  thence,  and  found  he  was  the    Wretch, 
Who  with  Vonploor  his  hellish  arm  had  tried! 
His  strength  by  hunger,  wounds,  and  waste   of  blood 
So  weaken'd  was,  that  from  the  hour  he  fail'd 
To  o'ertake  the  lovely  Maid,  his  languid  limbs     540 
To  reach  the  Cave,  their  utmost  force  had  plied. 
But  not  until  this  night  of  awful  gloom, 
At  the  chear  place  arrived.     The  Lightning's    bl 
Illumed  the  rugged  way,  and  gave  him  power 
The  destin'd  spot  to  find. — The  wearied  band        54 
First  having  given  the  Wretch  some  nourishmen 
And  bound  him  fast,  the  care-dispelling  God 


ADVENTURES.  1Q5 


Of  mild  repose  again  invoked—The  storm 

Had  now  begun  to  wear  a  calmer  face — 

Fur  distant  in  the  flashing  firmament  550 

Its  muttering  fulminations  died  away . 

T  ic  imagined  horrors  of  the  scene  had   flown, 

And  through  the  chasms  of  disuniting  clouds, 

The  stellar  sparklers  peep'd ;  as  if  to  spy 

By  furtive  glance  the  ravage  of  the  storm.  555 

The  bright  nocturnal  Goddess  drew    aside 

Her  vapoury  veil,  and  smiled  upon  the  world  ! 

When  through  the  morning's  floating  fogs,  the  sun 
His  earliest  tints  diffused,  the  Heroes  rose  ; 
And  o'er  the  twinkling  Hills  transported,  hied       560 
Until  again  Vulosko's  home  they  reach'd. 
Serenely  cheerful  every  face  appear'cl, 
Except  the  guilty  Captives';  theirs  a  gloom 
Of  melancholy  sullenness  o'ercast ; 
And  so  reluctantly  they  march'd  along,  565 

That  all  their  steps  with  leaden  weights  seem'd  clog'd. 
In  custody  of  the  assistant  band 
Brought  by  Delome,  they  all,  except  Vonploor, 
To  prison  were  convcy'd;  there  to  remain 
Until  his  convalescence  gave  him  power,  570 

As  »  witness  for  the   Stale,"  before  the  bar 
Of  injured  Justice  to  appear,  and  prove 

The  guilt  of  his  more  criminal  colleagues. 
When  at  the  lowly  mansion  had  arriv'd 
The  little  phalanx,  good  Delome  proposed  575 


106  BOONE S 

To  accelerate  the  nuptial  rites, 

That  Boone  and  his  companions  might  partake 

The  sweet  festivities ;  and  all  agreed. 

Old  Ralph  was  to  the  settlement  dispatch'd, 

With  orders  to  invite  their  youthful  friends,  580 

And  bring  the  holy  Priest.     Three  days   elapsed* 

And  lo!  the  brilliant  bridal  Guests  appear'd! 

A  fine  umbrageous  arbor  had  been   form'd, 

In  which,  the  Hymeneal  rites  to  solemnize. 

Its  foliaged  Canopy,  and  sun-excluding  sides, 

With  all  the  flowery  beauties  of  the  Hills, 

Melcena  and  her  skilful  servant  maids 

Had  richly  hung,  and  gracefully  adorn'd. 

The  Sweet-brier  rose,  and  Honey-suckle  flower, 

The  crimson  lilly,  Hcart's-ease,  Jessamine,  590 

And   Cowslip  "interwove  in  wild  festoons, 

Around  the  bower  Edenian  odours  breathed. 

From  end  to  end  a  sylvan  t.-blc  stood, 

With  sumptuous  viands  spread,  and  mantling  Wii.es. 

Delicious  mountain  dainties  nicely  dressMj  :-'J5 

Were  there — sweet,  Pneasant  Venison  and  Trout. 

Around  the  rocky  wilds  the  gaysome  guests 

Awhile  with  wonder  gaz'd,  unknown  to  them 

What  charms  could  bind  Vulosko's  heart  to  scenes, 

With  rude  unsocial  Solitude  so  clothed.  '300 

But  soon  the  genial  flow  of  v'rtuous  mirth, 

Tueir  first  reflections  from  their  minds  dispersed, 

And  calm  convivial  converse  charm'd  their  hearts 


Vnd  made  t 


ADVENTURES.  107 


the  Mountain  bower  a  Paradise  ' 
The  slumbering  raptures  of  their  juvenile  joys,     605 
The  Lovers'  hoary -templed  Fathers  felt, 
By  memory's  potent  impulse  warmly  waked. 
A  flash,  of  virtuous  Pleasure's  vivid  flame 
Vulosko's  sorrow-clouded  breast  illumed, 
And  kindled  in  his  eye  the  sparkling  beams          610 
Of  tender  animation.     Heaven's  bright  face 
Serenely  shed  its  sunny  smiles  around,  < 
And  the  wild  Songsters  sung  through  all  the  wood 
Ten  thousand  strains  of  mountain  Melody. 
On  pinions  plumed  with  Pleasure's  purest  down    615 
The  happy  evening  pass'd.     The  bridal  pair 
In  silent  extacy  sat  side  by  side, — 
The  flush  of  Love,  warm  on  their  meeting  cheeks, 
Its  finely  erubescent  tints  diffused. 
Mild,  languid  emanations  from  their  eyes  620 

Of  sweet  expressive  blue,  effusive  flow'd  : 
Soul-breathing  kisses,  secretly  they  quaff'd 
From  love-dew'd  lips.     Their  hands  in  mutual  clasp, 
Were  glowingly  embraced.     In    unison, 
With  transport's  melting  thrill,  their  pulses  throb'd ; 
And  every  breath  was  incense  to  the  God  626 

Ol'  nuptial  bliss.     The  hour  at  length  arrived 
In  which,  the  coronation  of  their  love 
The  Venerable  Priest  was  to  perform; 
With  mild  solemnity  the  sacred  task  630 

Divinely  he  achiev'd.    The  gleeful  guests 


108 


BOONE  S 


Epithalamiums  sang  and  festive  lays 
Until  the  jocund  evening  closed. 

Next  morn 

Boone  and  his  gallant  comrades  bade  adieu 
To  the  convivial  Bevy,  and  resumed  635 

Their  mountain  march.     Vulosko's  grateful  heart 
Felt  SORROW'S  gush  with  PLEASURE'S  currents  mix, 
While  Bcone's  affectionate  hand  he  press'd,and  pray'd, 
That  holy  Heaven  would  give  protective  power 
To  him  and  his  magnanimous    colleagues. —  6-10 

At  parting  with  such  nvble-hearted  friends, 
Melcena  and  her  Melville  too,  were   sad, 
And  every  face  in  sympathetic  gloom 
Was  wrap'd. — The  affecting  valediction   o'er, 
The  innocent  festivities  again, 
In  all  their  harmless  rapture  were   renew'd. 
The  venerable  Vulosko  and  Delome 
With  joy,  the  juvenile  jollity    survey'd ; 
And  edified  at  intervals,  with  virtuous  lore 
And  sage  remarks,  on  Nature,  Books,  and  Man,  650 
The  taintless  minds  of  the  attentive  youth. 


THE 


ADVENTURES 

OP 

DANIEL  BOONE. 


BOOK  IV. 


ARGUMENT. 


INVOCATION  to  the  Muse.  I/o21.  Boone  and. 
his  associates  reach  the  summit  of  the  farthest  ledge  of 
mountains.  Reflections  and  anticipations  enkindlsd  by 
the  jiros fiect  of  Kentucky.  They  thence  descend  into  her 
•valleys.  Description  of  Scenery.  22*0  115.  The  Na 
tives,  stimulated  by  infernal  excitement,  are  furiously 
exasperated  at  their  presence.  115  to  159.  Boone  and 
Stewart  taken  firisoners  ;  after  several  days  detention^ 
they  escape,  but  find  their  Camp  plundered  and  their 
Comrades  fed.  160  to  227.  They  prepare  another 
shelter  )in  which,  after  some  time,  they  are  found  by  two 
other  Adventurers;  one  of  whom  is  Boone1  s  Brother. 
Through  him,  they  derive  intelligence  from  Carolina,  and 
from  Vulo_sko.  228  to  364  Stewart  murdered  while  on 

a  hun ting  excursion 4n  dp ostrophc  t o  him .     3 65  to  44 1 . 

Sorrow  of  the  surviving  Heroes — Winter  and  its  concom 
itant  horrors  described — Magnanimity  of  Boone — His 
philosophic  remarks  to  Inn  Brother— Their  industry 

through    the    Winter.     442   to    497.      Spring Boonc's 

Brother  returns  to  the  Settlement — Reflections  ofBoone^ 

excited  by  the  solitude  in  ni-hic/i  he  was  immersed The 

sources   of  his    consolation Interesting  Phenomena  of 

Nature.      498    to  609.      His  exemption  from  Fear l)i- 

i>er«i/ied  Beauties  and  picturesque  grandeur  of  the  Wil 
derness  and  its  Kivt,r& — 'Retrospective  contemplations 
arising  from  their  view.  6\0to  744.  Perilous  incident  t 
and  fortunate  escape. 


THE 


ADVENTURES 


OF 


DANIEL   BOONE, 


BOOK  IV. 


INSPIRE,  immortal  Spirits  of  the  West  ! 

With  bolder  energies  my  Muse's  wing, 

And  light  with  stronger  Hame  her  tender  eye, 

That  she  unwearied  o'er  the  loftiest  ridge 

Thut  stretches  in  her  frightful  way  may  soar,  5 

And  while  she  soars,  the  wide  stupendous  Wilds 

Throughout  with  lynxean  penetration  pierce. 

And  that  she  rnay  in  lays  seraphic  sing 

The  wonders  of  the  numerous  scenes  she    sees, 

Her  song  with  thy  own  sweetness  melodize.  IQ 

And  thou  my  Muse  !   with  wildly  melting  grace, 
Strike  softly  from  the  angel-woven  wires, 
Of  POESY'S  bright  HARP,  sweet   flowing  strains; 
To  celebrate  the  gently  sportive    CHARMS  14 

That  spread  kheir  beauties  through  the  blooming  West  / 
And  from  the  dcefi-ton'd  chords  their  thundering  notes, 


112  BOONE'S 

With  daring  sweep  arouse,  till  lofty   song 

The  bold  sublimity  of  the  new    world 

Harmoniously  proclaim ;  and  loud  resound 

The  bloody  brunts  of  the  first  Western  Wars,         20 

And  brave  intrepid  Boone's  adventurous  deeds. 

Swift  on,  o'er  the  rude-featured  Wilderness 
The  sinewy  sons  of  Enterprise  proceed. 
Lo  !  now  the  farthest  mountain-ledge  they  scale  , 
And  from  its  breezy  summit  raptured    see,  25 

Kentucky's  rolling  Hills  and  broad  Campaigns  ! 
Prophetic  transports  thrill'd  their  kindling  hearts, 
Ui. wonted  ebullitions  warm'd  their  blood, 
And  God's  Omnipotence  and  Wisdom  waked 
Profoundest  adoration  in  their  souls  ;  30 

As  in  continued  prospect,  they  beheld 
Green-mantled  GROVES  and  blossom-tinted  KNOLI.S, 
Extending  coextensive  with  the  ken 
Of  their  wide-ranging  Vision,  and  survey'd 
Through  prescient  FANCY'S  telescopic  tube,  35 

Republic-Institutions  rising  round 
The  rich  EXPANSE,  beneath  the  angelic  aid, 
OF  CONQUEST-CROWN'D  COLUMBIAN  LIBERTY  ! 

The  wearisome  asperities  at  length 
Of  Alleganean  Battlements  they  pass,  44 

And  o'er  the  bloom-cnamePd  vallies  speed. 
In  sweet  confusion,  Nature's  changeful  charms 
On  every  herb  and   spray  hung  loosely  round, 
And  fill'd  the  waving  Groves  and  odorous  air. 


ADVENTURES,  113 

ncl  at  each  step  in  thicker  plenty  bloom'd:  45 

Until  before  their  fascinated  eyes, 
In  careless  pomp,  great  NATURE'S  GARDEN,  deck'd 
With  all  the  fiecker'd  pride  of  Paradise, 
Its  countless  beauties  spread. 

The  liquid  lays        50 
Of  wild-wood  warblers  unimbibed  before 
By  polish'd  ear,  in  quavering  rivulets  stream'd. 
From  thousand-thousand  plumy  tubes  around. 
And  as  if  Nature  here  her  grand   Menage 
Had  proudly  fix'd  ;  in-numerous  animals,  55 

Of  numerous  kinds  and  various  sizes,  roam'd 
In  wild  profusion  through  the  rustling  woods. 
Dark-spreading  droves  of  browsing  Buffalos  ranged 
The  mazy  regions ;  slowly-marching  now, 
And  pausing  oft,  beneath  the  pendent    shade  60 

They  fought  the  flies,  and  cropt  the  juicy  Cane : 
Now  priding  in  tLeir  empire  uncontrolM, 
And  glorying  in  the  power  of  conscious  ini^iit, 
With  sullen  sportive-ness  they  ueadiong  cleave 
The  crackling  brakes,  and  wildly  rushing  on,  65 

Like  a  dark  hurricane,  the  bladed  groves, 
The  fiowei'ing  plants,  and  virenst  herbage  crush, 
And  shake  with  thundering  sweep  the  sounding  Hills. 
In  stately  majesty  the  towering  Elks 
On  every  hand  high-bounding,  shook  aloft  70 

Their  wide-diverging  Antlers,  snuffing  strong 
In  every  flying  breeze  the  Strangers'  breath; 


114  BOONE'S 

And  dashing  over  Hill  and  Brake  and  Copse, 
Reverting  oft  a  glance  of  timid  wonder,  sought 
Security  in  gloom  of  deeper    wilds. 

In  countless  herds,  the  fleetest  Quadruped 
That  treads  Columbia's  vast  uncultured    plains, 
The  agile  fine-limb'd  Deer,  gave  beauty,  life, 
And  fascination  to  the   wild-wood  scenes. 
Now  in  the  l.i.^h-grown  shrubbery  of  the    glade, 
They  lave  their  glossy  sides,  and  sip  the  dew 
Bright-glistening  on  the.  sweet  exuberant  flowers 
Or  nip  the  savoury  leaves  and  tender  moss, 
Which  constitute,  with  their  green-shady    tints 
The  variegated  Picture's  beauteous  ground. 
Now,  sheltered  from  the  strong-descending  blaze 
Of  noon-tide  sunshine,  they  in  mild  repose, 
Beneath  broad-foliag'd  boughs  lie  closely  couch'd 
On  lairs  of  cooling  grass,  while  round  them  sport, 
In  nimble  frisky  glee,  their  spotted   brood.  90 

Ihnumerous  other  more  ferocious  Beasts, 

„ 

Distancing  many  a  Green  with  guiltless  blood, 

And  holding  the  gramnivorous  tribes  in  awe.  9: 

At  length  Red   River's  rich  cane-border'd  banks 
Our  Heroes  reach'd  ;  and  there  a  shelter  form'd 
For  a  Nocturnal  lodge  and  screen  from    storms. 
They  thence  to  explore  the  fruitful  regions  round 
Excursions  dailv  made,  and  eft  the  marks 


ADVENTURES.  115 


Of  sanguinary  savages  descried. 

Lilt  unappull'd,  with  still  increasing  zeal 

The  wonder- waking  wilds  they  deeper  pierced  ; 

Kentucky's  rock-brow'd,  frowning  banks  soon  pass'd, 

And  over  uplands  plains  and  streams  advanced,      105 

Till  great  Ohio's  mellow  shores  they  trode  ; 

And  saw  with  joy  sublime,  the  PRINCELY    TIDE 

Devolve  his  silvery  billows  towards  the  Sea. 

There  oft  the  tawny  tenants  uf  the  wood 

To  them  in  fierce  and  frightful  groups  appeared  :     110 

Now  chasing  through  the  brakes  the  bounding  game, 

Now  driving  o'er  the  stream  the  shapeless  raft, 

Or  angling  in  the  eddying  deeps  for    fish. 

But  cautiously  o\ir  Heroes  shun'd  their  ken  ; 

Tor  every  gang  was  arm'd  complete.  115 

The  Hosts 

6f  Hell's  infernal  Empire  had  descried 
The  CONVOCATION  of  the  Angelic  Powers, 
And  through  their  emissaries  ascertained 
Its  great  design. — Their  black  tartarean   hearts       120 
With  boiling  gall  o'erflow'd  ; — Hell's  sulphury   fires 
Not  hotter  burn'd,  than  rag'd  the  demon  flames 
Tuat  heated  up  the  furnace  of  their  Breasts  ! 
By  all  the  purity  of  Heaven  they  swore, 
Aud  by  Damnation's  pitchy  gulphs,  to  thwart  125 

If  in  their  power,  the  humanizing   views 
Of  the  Celestial  Council;  and  forthwith 
By  subtle  process,  through  the  savage  souls, 


116 

The  poison  of  malignant  passions  puur'd, 

And  all  their  fury  roused  against  the    WHITES.      130 

M'Bride  and  Findley  and  their  valiant  bands, 

Who  erst  had  visitc.i  in  friendly   guise 

The  "DARK  AND  BLOODY  GHOUND  ;"  first  waked  the 

Of  Indian  jealousy  ;  which  now  the  Fiends  [fire 

Of  nether  darkness  fed  with  secret  fuel,  1.3; 

And  fan'd  into  a  flame  of  furious  rage. 

0 
To  FANTASIES  transformed,  in  midnight  dreams, 

They  crouded  Wizard-Horrors  through  the  brain 

Of  the  fierce  Natives,  representing  Death 

As  whetting  the  "  LONG  KNIFE"  to   exterminate   1-10 

Their  tribes,  while  from  its  mighty  blade  huge  streams 

Of  Indian  blood  in  smoking  sluices  gush'd ! 

They  saw  their  Groves  and  flowery  Forests  fall, 

Aud  desolating  Conflagrations  sweep 

Their  cany  Vales  and  wig-warn  Villages.  1-15 

They  saw  their  Deer,  their  Bears  and  BuflTalos  die. 

And  swarms   of  Whitemen  covering  all  the  plains, 

Which  from  great  Allegany's  base  extend, 

To  where  MISSOURI'S  thundering  surges  roll  I 

The  presence  of  our  Heroes  in  their  land,  150 

With  tenfold  dread  their  bloody  VISIONS  fill'd, 

And  kimlling  fierce  resista;  ce  in  their  he-arts, 

Roused  old  and  young  of  every  tribe  to  r.rms. 

To  avert  despair,  and  g-i/e  the  I!K!U;,,':>  Lc 
A  livelier  effervescence;  Hell's  dire    powers  Ii3 

With  tuc  iil-*;,u'n'd  Visions,  others  mix'd 


ADVENTURES.  117 

Of  more  ausfiicious  aspect;  Sachems  Seers, 
And  all  the  ORACLES  of  Savage  Faith, 
With  the  conflicting  Fantasies  were  fill'd. 

In  almost  constant  evagation,  Boone  16« 

And  his  companions  pass'd  the  summer  tide  ; 
Eluding  every  effort  of  the  Foe, 
To  Sacrifice  them  to  his  BLOODY  GOD. 
The  Hyperborean  breath  of  Brumal  winds, 
Began  the  autumnal  blooms  and  gossamer,  165 

To  scatter  through  the  air  and  russet  groves ; 
And  still  uninjured,  the  Adventurers  brav'd 
The  dangers  of  the  unreclaim'd  domain. 
But  now  the  time  of  trouble  and  distress, 
Of  Cruelty,  of  Stratagem,  and  Death  170 

Began  to  roll  in  view  its  bloody  glooms. 

One  morning  Baone,  accompanied  by  his  friend 
And  bold  Companion  Stewart,  left  their  Camp 
And  Comrades,  and  with  unmolested  march, 
O'er  mellow  Bottoms  and  rich  Hills  progress'd;    175 
Until  the  broad-spread,  gold-embellish'd  skirts 
Of  the  red  sun,  hung  blazing  in  the  trees. —  [groves, 

Through  grass-crown'd  glades  and  grape-empurpled 
Through  forests  with  deep-flecker'd  fruits  aclorn'd, 
And  f.-agrance  of  sweet  fading  flowers  perfumed        180 
In  animating  transports  they  had   pass'd. — 

As  on  the  breezy  brow  of  a  small  hill, 
Entranced  with  admiration's  glow  they   stood, 
No  fear  or  vexing  passion  in  their  breasts ; 


118 


BOONE S 


195 


A  savage  herd  rush'd  from  a  neighboring  brake,     185 

And  clutchM  their  noble  limbs.     Their  day  of  Woe 

Was  dawning  now.     But  all  the  darksome    glooms 

Of  its  disastrous  morn,  could  not  appall 

The  dauntless  Prisoners.     Valor  buoy'd  their    souls 

Above  complaint,  and  patriot  VIRTUES  taught,        190 

Plow  the  hot  vengeance  of  the  savage   heart 

To  soothe.' — Conciliating  meekness,  mix'd 

With  manly  dignity,  their  actions  mark'd ; 

And  mild  Hilarity  her  smiles  diffused 

Like  Summer  sunshine  o'er  their  winning  cheeks. 

In  rigid  thraldom  seven  days  they  pass'd ; 

Mean  while  engaged,  the  savage  Jealousies, 

Suspicions,  Animosities  and  Wrath, 

Against  the  white  Americans  to  extirp. 

So  far  our  noble  Captives  had  success  ; 

The  rigor  of  their  bondage  was  relax'd, 

And  they  permitted,  to  repose  unbound, 

In  the  Nocturnal  lodge.     As  there  one  Night 

On  fur-skin  beds  they  lay,  in   wildest  depth 

Of  a  Cane  thicket;  Boone,  perceiving   Sleep 

Its  death-resembling  seal  had  deeply  stanrtp'd 

On  every   savage  eye;  and  apprehensive   lest 

A  larger  and  less  lenient  band  might  soon 

Become  of  their  precarious  Destiny 

The  Arbi»r-rs,  if  the  auspicious  chance 

Then  off    ing  ;.n  escape  was  not  embraced; 

Witii  gentle  touch  his  slumbering  Comrade    wak'd  ; 


200 


210 


ADVENTURES.  119 

/•Said  off  with  light  and  speedy  steps  they  stole, 
Through  the  anfractuous  brake,  in  whose  dark   maze 
rheyipandered  on,  till  Night's  dim-beaming  lamps  31s 
In  Morn's  wide-flowing  floods  of  flame  were  quench'd. 
They  then  in  haste  to  their  old  Camp  return'd, 
And  found  it  plundered    and  their  Comrades  gone! 
The  tawny  foe  had  driven  them  thence,  and  they 
Believing  their  adventurous   Chief  was  slain,          220 
And  fearing  friendless  Winter  might  combine, 
Through  medium  of  his  trace-betraying  snows, 
Or  otherwise,  with  the  red  foe  to  yield  them 
Into  the  blood-reeking  hand  of  grisly  Death, 
Conceived  it  prudent  to  tread  back  the  Wilds          225 
To  Carolina's  civilized  abodes, 
And  therefore  thither  steer'd. 

In  hunting  Deer 

And  reconnoitring  the  New  World,  still  Boone 
And  Stewart  the  unwasted  hours  employed :  230 

First  having  rear'cl  on  other  ground,  a  Hut 
To  screen  them  from  fierce  Winter's  freezing  storms. 

Oft  from  our  HERO'S  eye,  the  tears  of  Love 
Translucent  drop'd,  as  sleepless  Memory  glanced 
On  his  dear  wife  and  babes  and  distant  Home.      235 
But  the  SUPPORTING  ANGEL,  still  his  heart 
With  spirit-strengthening  fortitude  inspired, 
And  warm'd  him  with  the  fires  of  virtuous  Fame. 

Now  Winter  roll'd  from  the  bleak  Northern  skies, 
His  cloudy  tempests  towards  the  warmer  West;  240 


120  BOONE'S 


While  Winds  howl'd  hoarsely  through  the  blacled  brakes. 

And  circumscribed  within  kss  ample  bounds, 

The  bold  Adventurers'  quotidian  tours.  0 

As  in  their  Camp  one  cold  and  blustering  day, 

Fire-warm'd  they  sat,  retracing  on  the  Map  24:> 

Of  honest  memory,  the  deep-color'd  lines 

Of  juvenile  life,  and  sweet  domestic  joy  ; 

A  crackling  in  the  tangled  cane  they  heard, 

And  springing  to  the  entrance  of  their   tent, 

Two  Whitemen  spied,  whom  soon  they  recognized,    250 

And  with  the  enraptured  voice  of  transport  hail'd. 

For  lo  !  our  HERO'S  Brother  and  a  Friend 

Were  there  !     The  joy  of  elevated  souls, 

Enliven'd  and  enhanced  by  all  the  powers 

Which  can  to  bliss  its  highest  zest  impart,  255 

The  unexpected  interview  sublimed. 

The  dreadful  dangers  lurking  in  each  nook 

Of  the  terrific  waste,  and  all  the  clouds 

Of  adverse  fortune  which  had  gloom'd  their  peace 

Since  their  arrival  in  the  Wilderness,  260 

Were  now  forgotten.     The  glad  news  of  Health 

In  his  dear  family,  with  thankful  tears 

Boone's  eyes  suffused.     Awhile  with  the  warm   gush 

Ot  tender-thrilling  extacy  o'erwhelm'd, 

In  silence  round  his  weeping  Brother's  neck,         865 

With  him  exchanging  happiest  looks,  he  hung: — 

And  then  his  children  one  by  one  he  named, 

Enquiring  eagerly  for  each,  and  heard 


ADVENTURES. 

With  all  a  Father's  fond  solicitude, 

Their  several  little  messages  of  Love.  270 

The  welfare  of  his  Neighbors,  and  his  Friends, 

With  the  condition  of  his  COUNTRY,  claim'd 

Successively  his  warm  inquiring    zeal. 

;Iis  brother  satisfied  with  ardent  haste, 

His  strong  affection-bora  anxieties ;  275 

And  then  described  the  influence  of  that    power 

Which  acted  on  himself,  ere  he  the    scenes 

Of  social  joy  resign'd,  to  embark  his  fate 

On  that  rough-rolling  sea  of  Enterprise, 

Whose  bloody  Surges  heaved  by  Passion's  storms,  280 

And  foaming  underneath  the  boding  shades 

Of  Death's  dark  Banners,  threaten'd  to  o'erwhelm 

Whate'er  approach'd  their  desolate   Domain. 

He  on  his  way  had  seen  the  good  Delome, 

Who  a  complete  recital  to  him   gave 

Of  all  the  circumstances  relative 

To  the  LOST  MAID  :  and  then  a  servant  sent 

To  lead  him  to  Vulosko's  humble  dome, 

Where  Hospitality's  benign  salute 

deceived  him  at  the  door.     Melcena   view'd 

With  kind  discerning  glance  the  unknown  guest,     291 

For  in  his  lofty  countenance  she  mark'd 

A  nameless  play  of  mind,  a  mingled  glow 

Of  sensibility  and  mental  strength, 

Resembling  strongly  what  she  oft  had  seen 

In  Daniel  Bbone's  fine  intellectual  face  I  296 

L 


122 


She  told  her  Melville  what  she  saw  :  he  smiled, 
Believing  it  mere  female  fantasy  ; 
But  her  superior  perspicatiousness 
Was  soon  compell'd  to  own.     Vulosko  read 
Aloud  a  letter  from  his  friend   Delome,  SO  I 

Which  introduced  them  to  their  gallant  Guest. 
From  their  warm  lips  benignant  welcomes    flow'd, 
"And  melting  Friendship  glow'd  within  their  hear 
Majestic  Melville's  speaking  look   assumed 
An  air  of  more  expressive  tenderness  ; 
And  sweet  Melcena's  eyes  of  beaming  blue 
A  lovelier  livelier  animation  shed. 
Her  venerable  Father  grasp'd  the  hand 
Of  the  vivacious  visitant,  and  pray'd 
That  Heaven's  Omnipotence  would  shield  his  life 
From  shafts  of  savage  Inhumanity  ; 
And  aid  his  glorious  efforts  to  extend 
Refinement's  humanizing  flame,   until 
Like  lambent  day  it  spread  through  all  the  West. 
"  You  have  a  brother,"  said  the  white-lock'd  Sire, 
"  Whose  arm  the  Battle's  thundering  bolt  can  wiel 
Whose  mind  can  kindle  splendors  in  the   shades 
Of  Savage  Night,  and  make  the  gloomy  throne 
Of  barbarous  Ignorance  fall  beneath  its  powers : 
Whose   heart  is  Pity's  altar,  Virtue's  shrine, 
And  Valor's  empire ! — Find  him  ere  you  rest, 
And  league  your  fate  with  his  j  convey  to  him 
Vnlosko's  love  !— His  kind  and  manly  worth 


311 


"' 


321 


ADVENTURED.  123 

s  stamp'd  indelibly  upon  my  heart. 

nform  him  that  the  narrow  Horizon  326 

Of  my  descending  Sun  of  life  is  clear  ; 

ixcept  that  now  and  then  a   sombre    cloud 
From  MEMORY'S  melancholy  pool  exhaled, 
Athwart  it  throws  a  temporary   gloom. 
For  I  had  once  a  Wife!  and  two  dear  Sons! —    331 
She  and  my  eldest  son  were  snatch'd  away 
By  the  authorized  Destroyer  Death.     But  James, 
My  manly  James  !     Was  torn  from  me,  was  slain 
By  sanguinary  men  ! — by  cursed  Choctaws  1" 

He  paused  a  while  and  deeply  sighing  wiped     336 
His  tear-steep'd  eyes  ;  then  cast  a  brightening  glan.ce 
At  Melville  and  his  blooming  spouse,  and    thank'd 
Benevolent  Heaven  that  still  he  had  a  SON, 
To  cheer  the  Wintry  Season  of  old  age, 
To  pillow  up  his  dying  head,  and  weep  341 

Upon  his  grave. — He  now  the  subject  changed  ; 
And  shew'd  his  guest  the  wounded  wretch  Vonploor, 
Who  still  was  balanced  in  the  dubious    scales 
Of  Life  and  Death. — With  these  benignant    friends 
One  Night  Our  HERO'S  noble   Brother    pass'd,        346 
Then  bade  farewelj  and  travel'd  on    to  meet 
Upon  the  designated   Mountain  peak, 
His  enterpiising  friend  and  brave   Compeer, 
Who  from  Delome's  a  different  rout   he'd  gone, 
To  find  a  Hunting  band   that  was  encamp'd,  35 1 

Among  the  mighty  mountains'  howling  glooms. 


BOONF.s 

Again  conjoin'tl ;  the  adventurers  held  their  way, 

Until  Kentucky's  woody  plains  they  reach 'd, 

Where  rambling  on,  at  length  they  came  by  chance, 

In  hearing  of  our  HERO'S  cane-hid  Camp.  356 

In  pleasure's  manly  sports,  some  pleasant  weeks 

The  little  cheerful  company  now  pass'd. 

But  Joy  alas  '  is  oft  the   Harbinger 

Of  sorrow — Pain  delights  to  dart  his  sting, 

Into  the  breast  that  beats  with  transport's  throb  :   351 

And  Death  oft  drinks,  as  if  a  sweeter    draught, 

The  life  whose  currents  roll  with  smoothest  flow ; 

Making  possession  most  to  be  desired, 

And  that  oft  too,  while  the  pellucid  stream  I 

Is  swelling  in  the  highest  tide  of  bliss.  S<56 

The  Instigators  of  the  INDIAN  IRE, 
With  fierce  Demoniac  rage,  its  furious  flames 
Continued  to  incite,  until  they  burst 
In  burning  billows  on  brave  STEWART'S  head. 

The  Centinels  of  Heaven's  stellar  Hosts,  371 

Had  not  from  their  nocturnal  watch   retired, 
But  still  from  the  cerulean  Towers  survey'd 
With  twinkling  eyes  the  march  of  Myriad  Worlds  ; 
When  Boone  and  his  associate  Trio  rose, 
And  belted  on  their  blanket-coats  to  course,  376 

The  red-leafed  groves,  and  grape-crown'd  Hills  for  game. 
The  morning's  azure  face  from  clouds  was  clear, 
Bleak  was  his  breath  and  piercing  ;  and  his   locks, 
With  frost  were  powder'd  o'er.    The  Adventurers'  nerves 


ADVKNTUIIES.  125 

ere  strung  for  action,  and  their  spirits  braced    08 1 
or  valorous  feats  and  perilous    emprise- 
he  crackling  wilds  in  separate  routes  they  pierced ; 
eep  peals  the  ringing  rifles  oft  times   pour'd 
Along  the  sounding  dells,  and  rang  the  knell         386 
Of  many  a  dying  Deer. — The  keen-edged  blade 
Of  Stewart's  Butchering  Knife,  with  severing  plunge, 
Full  half  a  score  of  reeling,  bleeding  Stags 
To  earth  that  day  had  brought,  and  in  the  throats 
Of  four  huge  'Buffalo's  had  been  buried  deep.        391 
As  the  wild  Genius  of  the  Chase  stood  near, 
To.  enroll  his  name  among  her  favorite  Sons, 
And  crown  him  with  the  laurels  of  the  day  ; 
Fierce,  yelling  swarms  of  savage  Caitiffs,  armed 
With  bloody  Hatchets,  from  their  ambush  pour'd,     396 
And  instantly  encircling  him,  let  fly 
Their  death-commissiou'd  Weapons,  and    dislodged 
Tl:e  intrepid  Stewart's  life !     His  lofty  frani-j, 
Upon  the  frozen  moss,  blood-smoki;:g  fell; 
lis  full  bright  eye  now  lost  its  lustrous  .glow,      401 
nd  that  strong-muscled  face,  commanding  grace 
nd  animating  smiles  no  more  adorn'd. 
His  high-viewed  heart,  where  generous  valor  reign'd, 
Where  patriot  feelings  warm'd  the  flowing   blood, 
And  kindled  aims  of  daring  Enterprise,  406 

n  Death's  cold  gripe  was  still  1  No  more  to  beat  i 
No  more  to  feel  I     In  puddles  now, 
The  vapid  fluid  once  with  spirit    warm, 


126 


His  lifeless  bosom's  frigid  cisterns   fill. 

Those  fine-form 'd  liir.bs  that  scaled  the  mcuntrin-steeps 

Unwearied,  and  with  vigorous  speed  pursued          411 

O'er  Hills  and  streams  and  Vales  the  vaulting  game, 

Voracious  Wolves  and  Vultures  row  devour  ! 

What  though,  thou  Martyr  in  Refinement's  cause  ! 

No  kindred  weep  around  thy  pallid  Corse,  41 

And  wrap  it  in  the  snow-white  winding   sheet — 

What  though  no  mourning  symbols,  cypress  boughs, 

And  melancholy  crape  around  thee  hang — 

Nor  polish'd  Coffin,  nor  protecting  grave, 

Thy  cold,  thy  gore-encrusted  Corpse   receive  ?       £21 

What  though  no  mournful   Bells  nor  muffled  Drums, 

Nor  mixed  procession  robed  in  funeral  black, 

To  thy  remains  Sepulchral  homage  pay  ? 

What  though  no  tomb  in  monumental  grandeur  mark 

Among  Mausoleums  of  distinguished  Dead,  426 

And  mossy  sepulchres  of  many  an   age, 

The  shrine  where  Stewart's  slumbering  bones  repose 

What  tho'jgh  upon  a  thousand  Hills  thy  dust, 

Now  slumbers,  unawaked  by  the  rude  tread 

Of  passing  feet,  unconscious  where  thou  sleep'st  ?  34 

What  though  all  this,  since  Angels  mourn'd  thy  fall ! 

Since  the  HISTORIC  Genius  has   inscribed 

On  Fame's  imperishable  rolls  thy  name  ! 

Since  God's  own  vivifying  voice  •will  lift 

Again  thy  scattcr'd  ashes  from  the  ground  ;  430 

And  from  his  Holy  Bosom  send  thy  soul 


ADVENTURES. 


1  he  renovated  tenement  once  more 

To  occupy;   when  spirit-wing'd,  it  shall, 

T  >  join  the  sainted  Hosts  of  Heaven  ascend  ! 

And  with  PHILANTHROPY'S  seraphic  Sons.  441 

Who  bled  cohflicting  with  the  embattled  bands 

Ot  fell  Barbarians  in  the  bloody   West, 

Forever  bask  in  brilliant  beams  of  BLISS  ! 

Much  the  surviving  Heroes  mourn'd  the  loss 
Of  their  magnanimous  Colleague  and  Friend  ;         446 
Boone's  bosom  intimate,  and  VALOR'S   pride] 
Again  their  dwindled  number  was  reduced, 
And  Boone  and  his  brave  Brother  left   alone, 
TJy  the  departure  to  the  settlement 
Of  their  remaining  Comrade. —  45l 

WINTER  now 

From  Nature's  face  had  struck  the  smiling  bloom, 
And  o'er  the  world  with  dreadful  ravage  reign U 
At  his  approach  the  sylvan  music  ceased, 
And  shrinking  VEGETATION  hid  beneath 
The  icy  surface  of  the  frozen  soil:  456 

The  withered  Wild  was  drear  as  Death's  Domain.' 
And  echoed  with  the  roar  of  hoarse-ltmged  STORMS, 
And  chilling  yells  of  flesh-devouring  Beasts. 
But  Boone's  self-centered  soul  unshaken  tower'd 
Sublimely  o'er  the  Horrors  of  the  Waste,  46I 

And  like  a  cloud-impaling  Pyramid, 
fhe  Tempest's  desolating  rage  defied  ! 
With  philosophic  calmness  oft  he  said, 


128  BOONF.  S 

"  My   Brother !  now  we  see  what  a  rich    fount 
Of  pure  felicity  the  mind  of  man 
Within  itself  contains,  if  not   defiled 
By  the  corruptions  of  soul-blackening  Vice. 
How  littie  on  the  gcw-gaw  glare  of  Wealth, 
On  Power's  pageant  pomp,  and  vain  parade, 
The  human  heait  for  happiness   depends. 
T.;e  Fashionable   World's  a  Masquerade, 
In  which  the  real  character's  conceal'd : 
It  has  ten  thousand  hires  to  snare  the    soul, 
And  is  with  Falsehood,  Flattery  and  Deceit, 
With  Calumr.y  and  Disappointment  fill'd. 
Its  smiles  are  like  the  fabled  Syren's  songs  ; 
Its  pleasures  are  the  painted  pills  of  Death; 
And  when  to  us  its  tempting  hand  it   gives, 
Its  faithless,  cold,  deceitful  heart's  withheld. 
Contentment  builds  her  silky-plumed   Nest, 
In  the  pure  Heart  where  Innocence  abides ; 
And  Innocence  on  timid  pinions  flies, 
To  Nature's  Solitudes  ,and  sweet  retreats. 
From  the  turmoil  of  Vicc-envelop'd  Crouds, 
'Tis  there  the  soul  by  passions  undisturb'd, 
In  philosophic  converse  with  herself, 
Can  ascertain  her  energies  divine, 
And  exercise  them  in  exalted  thought — 
'Tis  there  the  mind  with  animated    eye, 
Beholds  her  intellectual  currents  roll, 
Unruffled  and  serene  i  and  raptured  sees 


ADVENTURES.  129 

AGINATION'S  rainbow-splendors   gild» 
ler  pure  pellucid  deeps  and   sparkling  waves; 
\nd  silent  WISDOM'S  sterling  gems  enrich 
ler  beds    profound. 

Bleak  Winter's  reign  though  fierce,   49i 
Was  short.     Our  Hero  and  his  Brother  braved, 
With  spirits  high,  its  joy-forbidding  frowns  ; 
Devoting  to  their  reconnoitring  task, 
And  hunting  pleasures  almost  every  day. 
At  length,  at  Angel-featured  Spring's   approach,    jOl 
The   surly  Tyrant's  cloudy  Hosts  retired, 
And  sheltering  in  their  Northern   Fortresses, 
Hung  round  their  gloomy  Monarch's  icy  throne. 
Again  enfranchised  from  her  frozen  bonds, 
Invigorated,  with  rekindled   life,  506 

From  the  dark  bowels  of  her  brumal  grave, 
Triumphing  VEGETATION  rose,  and  breathed 
Her  scented    sweetness   on  the    siik-wing'cl  gales. 
Once  more  returning  MAY  blush 'cl  o'er  the  Wilds  ; 
But  found,  unwonted  sight!  our  Hero  sad  !  511 

His  Brother  now  was  gone;  was  travelling  home, 
For  Horses,  ammunition  and  what  else 
Their  state  required — A  n.ind  less  firm  than  Boone's, 
C'ould  not  have  braved   the  soul-transpiercing  thrusts 
Of  dagger-edg'd  Reflections,  which  assail'd  516 

His  bosom's  tenderest  points.     He  now  was  left 
Amid  surrounding  swarms  of  fiercest  fiends, 
Without  a  single  iViend,  sxve  the  kind  Spirit; 


139 


BOONE  S 


Who  faithful  to  his  delegated  charge, 

Still  with  his  viewless  shield  protection  spread 

Around  the  Hero's  life.     The  cultured  banks 

Of  peaceful  Yadkin ;  the  unbloody  Hills, 

Where  once  unapprehensive  of  a  Foe, 

He  enjoy'd  the  Chase,  his  fellow-sportsmen's  sonj 

And  animated  jest,  their  cheerful   interchange        52$ 

Of  graver  sentiments,  and  mild  debates 

On  politics  and  man  ; — with  charms  renew'd, 

All  these  in  Memory's  mirror  he  beheld, 

And  for  their  loss  a  moment  mourn'd.     But   most, 

His  mind  to  melancholy  was  disposed, 

By  musing  on  the  misery-boding    Fears, 

The  kind  Concern,  and  keen  Inquietude,  1^^  ' 

Which  day  and  night  disturb'd  the  peace  ;  which  paii 

And  stung  incessantly  the  sorrowing    hearts, 

Of  his  Angelic  spouse,  his  high-soul'd  Sons,          5;' 6 

And  tender-bosom 'd  Daughters — If  indulged, 

Reflections  on  those  sombre  themes  would  soon 

Have  shadow'd  o'er  the  lucid  pane,  through  which 

Contentment's  radiant  beams  his  soul    illumed. 

But  he  too  well  a  HERO'S  duty    knew 

To  bury  in  privation-brooded  glooms, 

In  the  dark  shadows  of  domestic  woe, 

The  kindling  sparks  of  useful  Enterprise  ; 

Which  promised  by  gradations  to  expand, 

Until  their  bright  illuminations   spread, 

Through  the  Barbarian  Blackness  of  the  W'est. 


ADVENTURES.  131 


His  cares  of  Home  on  Heaven  he  therefore  cast, 

And  sought  felicity  within  himself ^ 

And  in  the  flowery  treasures  of  the  Wild.  551 

Oft  where  the  beauteous  Crown-imperial  bloom'd 

In  gorgeous  pomp  unvcil'd,  and  Tulip-laurel 

Its  sweet  effluvia  on  the  gales  diffused, 

He  rambled  to  enjoy  their  cheering  charms ! 

And  oft  the  princely  Pinnacle  he  scaled  556 

Of  a  smooth  Hill,  which  o'er  the  green  campaign 

In  airy  pride,  and  conic  grandeur  tower'd  : 

H<-  there  in  wondering  contemplation  gazed, 

On  various  God-proclaiming  scenes,  which    shone 

In  glorious  fulgour,  far  as  eye  could  roll.  561 

He  thence  great  NATURE'S  THEATRE  beheld 

In  all  its  pomp  and  splendid  scenery  clothed  ; 

Herself  the  Mistress  of  the    grand  DISPLAY, 

And  the   distinguish'd   HEROINE-ACTRESS  too  ! 

Her   curtain    with  the  opening  dawn   she  drew,       56S 

And   myriad  strains  of  plausive   Melody, 

Her   entrance   on  the   gorgeous   stage    proclaim'd  ! 

The  varying  scenes  a  thousand  times  she  changed  ; 

Her  sweet  serenity  and  mellow  smiles 

She  now  diffused  and  trod  in  purest  light  !  471 

While  round  her  frisk'd  and  play'd  in  happiest  life, 

In  gambols  of  wild  joy  her  retinue, 

Of  leathered  and  four-footed   animals  ; 

And  o'er  the  scenic  drapery's  cloud-form'd  sheets, 

To  beautify  them  with  prismatic  hues,  57S 


132  BOOLE'S 

Its  gilding  streams,  her  golden  Da) -lamp  pour'd 

But  now  encompass'd  by  tempestuous  glooms, 

She  bends  her  blackening  brow — and  thunders  break 

In  rolling  vollies  o'er  the  shuddering  Stage  ; 

While  swiftly  round  her  form  sublime,  the  blaze  581 

Of  scathful  lightning  sweeps — the  mountain   peaks, 

Which  darkly  in  the  distant  back-ground  tower, 

Are  shrouded  in  her  frown ! — And  weeping  Skies, 

The  tragic  darkness,  and  tumultuous  thioes, 

In  tearful  torrents  mourn.     The  gushing  streams  5S6 

To  great  Ohio's,  swelling  surges  roll ; 

And  He,  with  billowy  agitation  boil'd, 

Deep-rearing  rushes  down  his  foaming  way. 

But  soon  again  she  scatters  from  her   face 

The  curling  clouds,  from  the  wide  Canopy  591 

Withdraws  the  stible  HANGINGS,  and  a  Calm 

Enliven'd  with  redoubled  splendor,  spreads  ! 

Unmasking  the  bright  fount  of  beauteous  Day, 

Unveiling  all  her  charms  in   loveliest  blcom, 

And  garnishing  the  groves  with  brighter  green,     596 

She  seem'd  commission 'd  by  the  powers  of  Heaven, 

To  deck  the  world  with  more  magnific  pomp  ! 

From  that  commanding  Hill,  those  changing  scenes, 

Our  Hero  oft  with  hallow'd  rapture  view'd. 

If  Nights  tenebrious  shades  the  prospects  veil'd,   601 

While  yet  he  lingir'cl  on  the  airy  mound ; 

Upon  the  plumy  lup  of  gentle  sleep 

His  head  he  laid,  and  there  reposed  till  morn; 


ADVENTURES. 


3r  listening  to  the  Owl's  wild-thrilling  scream,    605 
The  Wolf's  blood-chilling  howl  and   hungering  yell; 
Or  gazing  on  the  sky-throned    Queen's  bright  face, 
The  planetary  spheres,  the  burning-  stars, 
The  meteor  gleams,  the  silver-winged  clouds, 
The  darken'd  wastes,  the  moon-reflecting  waves,  610 
\nd  beam-absorbing  mists,  the  Night  he'd  spend 
hi  philosophic  thought  and  transports    wild! 

The  Goblin-visaged  spectre  Fear,  that   haunts 
The  Coward's  heart,  crawls  through  his  haggard  dreams, 
Depictures  Death  and  Dangers  and   Distress,         615 
And  grinning  bloody  forms  through  all  his  thoughts, 
In  Boone's  undaunted  Breast  could  never  live. 
He  knew,  that  Fear  the  active  nerves  benumbs, 
When  most  their  useful  aidance  is   required,, 
Imparting  thus  to  dangers  double  force.  620 

He  knew,  that  the  Almighty's  arm,  which  shields 
From  shafts  of  Jeopardy,  the  harmless  heart, 
In  soft  refinement's  social  scenes,  can   guard, 
With  equal  ease,  the  breuat  which  beats  in  wilds, 
Where  barbarous  Heathens  raise  the  arm  of  Death,  625 
And  dreadful   Beasts,   for  blood,  the  forests   prowl. 
He  therefore  boldly  bade  the  grisly  Fiend, 
Infernal  Fear,  avaunt.     No  idle  day 
He  pass'd.     But  great  Ohio's  cane-cloth'd  plains 
Unceasingly  explored.     No  City's  pomp,  630 

Reflecting  all  the  blaze  of  polish'd  Art, 

With  turrets,  spires  and  steeples  crowu'd, 
M 


154  BOONE'S 

With  sweetest  Beauty's  vestal  choirs  adonrd, 
With  flapping  sails  of  richest  Commerce  wing'd, 
And  Luxury's  costly  Magazines  enrich'd,  635 

Could  half  so  much  delight  have  given  his  mind, 
As  the,  unfolding  WORLD  OF  WONDROUS  CHARMS, 
Sublime,  majestic,  beauteous,  splendid,  fair, 
Which  oped  its  wild  luxuriance  on  his  eye 
Wheree'er  he  trod. — Ohio's  limpid   flood 
Immmerous  Beauties  in  itself  contain'd, 
And  Majesty  and  glorious  Grandeur  too ! 
Its  slowly-sliding  volume  seem'd  a    Sea 
Of  molten  silver,  smoothly  rolled  along. 
Great  Trees  above  its  turfless  bottoms  towei 
And  spread  their  giant-branches  o'er  its  Deeps  $ 
Whose  lucid  Mirror  pictured  every  leaf, 
Bright-crimson'd  bud,  and  spiral-\vinding    vine, 
Which  waving  o'er  their  watery  surface,   hung. 
The  finny  tenants  of  the  liquid  cells,  650 

In  myriads  sported  through  the  rolling  stream  ; 
Now  springing  at  the  floating  fly,  they  break 
Its  glassy  superfice,  now  darting  down 
The  crystal  element,  they  again    return 
To  playful  gambols  on  their  pebbly    beds.  CiS 

Too  pervious  to  the  eye,  the  incumbent    Mass 
Of  cloudless  liquid  to  conceal  from  view 
Their  glancing  forms. — With  giaceful  majesty, 
Tall  arch-neck'd  Swans  in  snowy  bevies    sailed, 
The  waving  bosom  of  the  flowing  flood  ;  660 


ADVENTURES.  135 

Ai  cl  pouv'd  in  murmuring  undulations  through 

The  tremulous  waves  and  vibratory  air, 

Their  trumpet  notes  and  deeply-quavering-  tones. 

Aquatic  flocks  of  various  kinds  besides, 

Srme  rowing  on  the  shining  stream,  some  buoy'd    665 

Oa  clattering  pinions  o'er  its  bright  expanse, 

And  circling  through  the    scream-resounding  air, 

Surveying  with  instinctive,  wild  delight, 

Tae  inviting  beauties  of  the  watery  scenes; 

Our  Hero  saw.     And  ofttimes  he  beheld,  670 

Proud  Antler-crowricd  Deer,  in  ample  droves 

The  unrippling  current  stemming.     Ofttimes  too, 

From  bank  to  bank  his  curious  eye    pursued 

The  unsocial  Bears,  which  with  nigrescent  paws,  - 

Through  the  bright  stream   their  shaggy  bodies  oar'd. 

Continuing  on  his  reconnoitring  route,  675 

Beyond  Ohio's  winding  course,  o'er  plains 

With  dulcet  fruits,  and  flosculous  beauties   rich, 

He  reach'd  at  length  the  mighty  MONARCH  STREAM, 

The  great  Imperial  River  of  the   West  !  680 

Majestic  MISSISSIPPI  !  and  beheld  ; 

Like  HOSTS  of  Battle-charging  STEEDS   inflamed 

By  rage-enkindling  trumpets,  fires  and   drums, 

And  sanguinary  Death,  descending  down 

Some  sloping  field  with  rolling  KNOBS  emboss'd;  685 

The  turbid  torrent's  fury-foaming  WAVES, 

Impetuous  dashing  onwards  towards  the  Sea ; 

As  if  disdaining  to  disgrace  their  pride} 


136  BOONE'S 


By  lingering  long  'mongst  humble  inland  streams, 

Or  holding  back  from  the  great  RENDEZVOUS,       690 

The  awful  ARMY  of  assembled  Floods  ; 

Their  tributary  force.     In  thought  sublime 

Upon  the  wave-worn  bai:k  the  Hero  stood, 

And  hail'd  with  extacy  the  headlong  flood ! 

The  associating  principle  of  mind,  695 

That  throws  the  thoughts  with  rapid  power, 

O'er  all  the  mazy  complicated  chain 

Of  objects,  which  are  link'd  to  the  grand  theme 

That  with  sublime  sensation  swells  the  soul ; 

Boone  now  in  all  its  forceful  influence  felt. 

Through  Fancy's  retrospective  Vista,  he, 

His  intellectual  vision  swiftly  glanced, 

And  witness'cl  the  first  flow  of  watery  floods ; 

When  at  the  ETERNAL'S  great  creative  word, 

They  started  from  ten  thousand  roaring  Springs —  705 

When  from  the  loftiest  height  of  this  vast  land, 

Its  four  IMPERIAL   Rivers,  Aregon, 

St.  Lawrence,  Bourbon,  and  Columbia's    pride, 

Great,  Mississippi!  roll'd  their  thundering  tides. 

From  une  deep,  Ocean-fed,  exhaustless  source,      715 

A    MIGHTY    SUBTERRANEOUS    RESERVOIR  1 

He  saw  their  youthful  Torrents  proudly  rise ; 
The  massy  rocks,  and  earth  obstructive,  burst, 
And  drive  their  Chariots'  foam-enveloped  Steeds, 
Divergent,  bounding  down  the  seaward  dells. —     720 
On  towards  our  spheric  planet's  primary  points, 


ADVENTURES. 


137 


"he  liquid  wheels  through  darksome  deserts    roll-, 
Passing  a  thousand  varying  climes  remote  ; 
Before  they  sparkle  in  the  briny   deeps. 
Down  through  the  unceasing  lapse  of  circling  time,  725 
He  saw  the  still  continued  currents  roll; 
Oft  swollen  high  by  inundations  pour'd 
From,  bursting  clouds,  uprooting  huge-grown  woods  ; 
And  bearing  ponderous  wrecks,  in  crashing  rage, 
Along  the  wilds  to  the  ingulphing   Seas.  730 

His  thoughts  firosfiectwely  he  also  cast, 
And  through  Imagination's  optics  viewed ; 
With  brilliant  diadems  of  COMMERCE  crown'd, 
And  with  the  products  of  a  thousand  farms, 
And  riches  of  Mercantile  Kingdoms  fraught,          73» 
With  FREEDOM'S  Cities  and  REPUBLICS  lined 
And  Happiness  and  Heavenly  Virtues  cheer'd  ; 
The  royal  stream,  on  whose  rich  banks  he  stood. 
With  Contemplation's  high  Cherubic  zeal, 
The  joy-inspiring  prospect  warm'd  his  soul,  740 

And  drove  o'er  themes  stupendous  as  the   Heavens, 
His  lofty-soaring  Fancy's  winged  wheels. 
But  most  the  JOWER  and  kind   MUNIFICENCE, 
Of  that  supremely  elevated  God, 

Who  said,  "  exist !"  and  s/iace  was  fill'd  !  Who  spake, 
And  flaming  Suns  appear'd  !  Who  said,  "  arise  !"  746 
And  dust  was  Man  1  Whose  touch  can  change  to  seas. 
The  solid  worlds,  and  through  the  gelid  wilds 

Of  spacious  Air,  ten  thousand  Rivers  roll, 


138  BOONE'S   ADVENTURES. 

And  petrify  to  flint  the  Ocean-floods  !  750 

On  his  Omnipotence  and  Goodness  most 

Our  Hero  mused. — While  thus  in  thought  deep  rapt, 

He  loiter'd  on  the  billow-beaten  banks, 

Whose  sandy  base  the  excavating  waves 

Incessantly  reduce,  and  heedless  trode  755 

The  surge-impending  brink ;  the  beach-crown'd    mass 

With  all  its  vegetative  load,  abrupt, 

Tumultuous  !  broke  from  the  supported  soil, 

And  with  impetuous  uproar  plunged  amid 

The  furious  flood  ! — Swift  from  the  tumbling  bank,    760 

He  leap'd  into  the  agitated  deep, 

And  o'er  his  head  the  angry  surges   curled. 

But  with  strong  strokes  he  upward  cleaves  his  way, 

And  rises  boldly  through  the  bubbling  foam  ! 

The  shore-rebounding  billows  beat  him  thwart       765 

The  firofluent  waves,  these  bear  him   down 

The  tossing  tide — the  cumbrous  wreck   behind 

Rolls  darkly  on,  and  breaks  the  stream  apart. 

Hence  rough,  increasing  surges  drive  amain 

The  Hero  onwards,  'till  in  widening  sheets,  770 

Far  from  the  floating  islet-mound,  they   spread 

A  smoother  breast,  o'er  which  he  swims   secure, 

And  reaches  safe  again  the  welcome  beach. 


THE 

ADVENTURES 


OF 


DANIEL  BOONE. 


BOOK  V. 


ARGUMENT. 

EOONJS  commences  his  return  to  the  Ohio.  Fright 
ful  -vociferations.  Enraged  Buffaloes.  Panther  killed. 
1  to  69.  Saline  Sivamps.  Boone  gives  names  to  t/ie 
Waters,  &c.  70  to  82.  Being  again  join'd  by  his  Bro 
ther,  he  continues  in  the  Wilderness  till  Spring,  when  he 
returns  Home.  He  relates  his  adventures.  Their  influ 
ence  upon  his  sons.  He  remains  on  the  Yadkin  until  the 
third  subsequent  autumn,  then  sells  his  farm,  and  with 
his  Jamily  and  Jivo  others  starts  for  Kentucky.  Oth/r 
Adventurers  unite  iv.th  them.  Powel's  and  Walden's 
Mountains  described.  The  Travellers  assailed  by  a  band 
of  Indian s,  iv ho  after  killing  six  of  the  Whites,  are  re 
pulsed.  Among  the  slain  is  James  Boone.  Remarks  on 
his  death.  83  to"2\7.  Address  to  Columbian  Youth.  213 
to  280.  The  Muse  recalled  from  her  digression.  Ef 
fects  of  the  season.  The  party  travels  back  to  Clinch. 
281  to  304.  Boone  engages  in  successive  enterprise*. 
305  to  352.  He,  at  length,  removes  his  family  to  Ken 
tucky.  Seeming  gratuiatiin  on  tlie  arrival  of  hix  Wif;' 
and  Daughters.  352  to  370.  Address  to  Beauty.  Its 
influence  exemplified  in  the  case  of  Henderson.  History 
of  his  attachment  to  Eliza  Calaway,  containing  an  ac~ 
fount  of  the  capture  by  the  Indians  of  her  sister  Fran 
ces,  and  Jemima  Boone  ;  of  their  sufferings  ;  of  Costea'i< 
character;  of  their  liberation  ;  of  the  love  between  Flan 
ders  Calarjay  and  Jemima,  and  between  Holden  and 
Frances  Cutaway,  concluding  with  a  notice  of  their  mar. 
riage. 


THE 


ADVENTURES 


OF 


DANIEL   BOONE. 


BOOK  V. 


SOME  days  in  pleasing  rambles  here  Boone  pass'd, 
And  then,  still  reconnoitring  as  he   went 
The  intervening  wilds,  to  the  rich   plains 
Of  grand  Ohio  journey'd  back. — One  day 
While  travelling  on  in  musing  mood,  he   heard         5 
Far  in  the  distant  Forest's  gloomy  depths 
A  rear  as  loud  and  frightful,  as   proclaims 
The  anger'd  Lion's  rage :   It  seem'd  the   Hills 
A'.id  sturdy  trees  to  shake,  and  loudly  roll'd, 
Reverberating  down  the  sounding  dales.  10 

With  dreadful  aggravation  still  it  grew, 
The  affrighted  Indians  wildly  yell'd — the    Wolves, 
In  gangs,  fled  howling  from  its  dread    approach— 
The  Eagles  dr-op'd  their  prey  and  sought  the  skies ! 
From  the  aged  poplars'  heartless  trunks,  the  Owls   15 
Pour'd  dismal  screams — The  bellowing  still  increas'd  ! 


142  BOONE'S 

And  drew  more  near  !    The  desert  brushwood  crash'd  ! 
A  thousand  thundering  feet,  with  heavy  sound, 
Like  a  tornado  hurried  swiftly  on, 
And  shook  the  shuddering  ground,  when  lo  !  appear'd,  20 
O'erspreading  many  a  rood  of  the  drear  waste, 
A  mighty  multitude  of  Buffaloes  huge, 
Resistless,  raging,  mad !     In  their  dark  van, 
One,  more  enrag'd  and  furious  than  the  rest, 
Vociferous  bursts  of  awful  agony  pour'd ; 
His  pain-set  eyes  like  burning  Globules  glar'd 
Upon  his  knees  he  oft  impetuous  pitch'd, 
Goring  the  ground,  while,  to  and  fro,  in    vain 
His  rough  hair'd  head  he  dash'd ;  for  on  his  back 
With  rending  talons  in  the  flesh  infix'd,  3 

A  murderous  PANTHER  plied  the  work  of  Death! 
Adown  the  sufferer's  brindled  sides  ran  blood. 
Profusely  streaming.     Cruelly,  with  teeth 
Of  spear-accuminated  sharpness,  gnaw'd 
Themerc'less  monster  through  the  strength-strung  loins, 
And  buried  deeply  in  the  smoking  chasm,  36 

His  gory,  life-destroying  snout ;  until 
Full   hail  his  blood-smear'd  body  disappcar'd, 
Deep  sunk  mid  sunder'd  muscles,  mangled  flesh 
And  bubbling  blood! — The  roaring  sufferer  reel'd  40 
And  sank  and  rose,  and  staggering  fell  again, 
His  pain-protruded  eyes,  with  glaring  green, 
Were  deeply  died,  and  Death's  destructive   shaft 
Drew  from  his  heaving  heart  the  strug'ling  life  ! 


ADVENTURES.  145 

Around  their  fallen  fellow  gather'd  thick  45 

The  furioui.  herds,  and  yells  and  groans,  and  clash 

Of  crouded  horns,  in  horrid  tumult  broke 

From  the  close-clustering  circle's   brindled  bounds. 

They  snuff 'd  the  sanguine  steam  the  purple  spouts 

Sent  through  the  air,  and  catching  thence  the  rage  50 

Of  fiercest  bestial  madness,  sidelong   tore, 

With  buried  horns,  the  valley's  blood-stain'd   breast, 

And  fiercely  furrow'd  up,  with   pawing  feet, 

Its  flower-bespangled  soil,  wild-bellowing,  crush'd 

The  yielding  shrubs,  and  gored  the  rough-bark'd  trees. 

The  ferine  Murderer  startled  at  the  din,  56 

And  disintering  his  blood-buried   half, 

Look'd  wild  and  grimly  on  the  pressing  foe  ; 

And  finding  clangers  thick  beset  him   round, 

With  agile  spring,  leap'd  on  a  Buffalo's  back,         60 

And  thence  a  neighboring  poplar  reached,  up  which 

He  swiftly  fled.     Where,  on  a  lofty  bough, 

Viewing  the  scene  below,  out-stretch'd  he  lay, 

With  head  declining  o'er  his  gory  paws. 

Boone  the  gorg'd  prowler  marked,  aim'd  at  his  eye  65 

The  unerring  rifle,  and  brought  headlong   down 

His  brain -bespatter'd  carcase.     Terror-shockM 

At  the  unwonted  peal,  the  wide-mouth'd  herds 

Hoarse-yelling,  burst  resistless  through   the    Brakes. 

O'er  saline  swamps  by  savage  steps  impress'd,    70 
By  congregated  Buffaloes  Elks  and  Deer 
Deep-furrow'd,  the  unwearied  Hero  passed. — • 


144 


BOONE  S 


Contemplating  prospectively,  the  use 

To  which  Columbia  might  those  brackish  mines 

Apply,  he  viewed  them  with  attentive  ken.  75 

Here,  like  the  primary  lord  of  Paradise, 

The  Nomenclature  of  an  opening  world 

He  form'd  I  bestowing  names  on  streams  and  founts. 

On  plants  and  places  yet  anonymous, 

And  yet  unvisited  by  other  eye  80 

Emiting  Civilizement's  softened  beams, 

Than  the   Adventurer's   own. 

Again  at  length, 

A  BROTHER'S  presence  animates,  with   smiles 
And  sentimental  solace,  the  dark  WILDS  ; 
Which  they  wit.li  mutual  industry   explore, 
Until  another  Spring  her  bloom  unveils. 
Then  Daniel  Boone  the  mountains  reascends, 
Hies  onward  to  his  rural  Domicil, 
And  meets  once  more,  his  rapture-swooning 
And  the  endearing  transports  of  sweet  Babes. 
He  tells  his  wonder-kindling  tales,  while  tear* 
And  kind  caresses  speak  the  silent  joys, 
And  melting  admiration,  which  transport, 
Intenerate,  and  tin-ill  the  tingling  hearts 
Of  his  dear  Daughters  and  dove-bosom'd  spouse. 
While  he  the  various  scenes  enumerates 
Of  perilous  emprise,  through  which  he'd  passed, 
The  dawning  valor  of  his  youthful  sons 
Illume  the  trembling  tears  of  filial  love, 


ADVENTURES.  145 

That  gather  in  their  azure-beaming  eyes.  100 

But  most  the  account  of  his  captivity, 

And  his  companion  Stewart's  hapless  doom, 

Their  ardor  rous'd,  and  kindled  the  keen   thirst 

Of  vengeance  in  their  danger-daring  breasts. 

Like  two  young-  Lions  in  some  desert   Den,  105 

When  first  their  instinct  fires  begin  to  flame, 

Impelling  them  to  range  the  roaring   Waste, 

And  try  the  vigor  of  their  supple   limbs 

In  valiant  feats  of  blood ;  Boone's  manly  James 

And  Israel  panted  for  the  power  to   prove  110 

Their  prowess,  and  avenge  their  Father's   wrongs. 

Their  minds  dilated  with  the  expanded  view 

His  strong  descriptions  gave  of  the  rich  WILDS  ; 

While  prospects  of  magnanimous  emprise, 

And  Fancy-pictur'd  scenes  of  patriot  fame  ;  115 

Establishing  pure  FREEDOM'S  prosperous    States, 

Upon  a  base  as  lasting  as  the  Hills, 

Their  youthful  souls  with  animation  rapt. 

Quiescent,  on  the  lap  of  PEACE  and  LOVE, 
The  three  succeeding  summers  Boons  repos'd,      120 
And  then,  preliminaries  first  arrang'd, 
The  peaceful  Yadkin  left,  and  with  his  Wife, 
His  Children,  and  five  venturous  Families  more  ; 
Bidding  adieu  to  Friends  and  scenes  endear'd 
By  tenderest  incidents  of  Love  and  Joy;  124 

Began,  through  gloomy  wilds,  the  WESTERING  MARCH 

While  on  their  weary  way  through  Powel's  Vale, 

N 


146  BOONE'S 

Two  score  Adventurers  joined  their  jocund  band. 
Dark  labyrirrthian  Deserts,  mountain  Crags 
Stupendous,  frowning  in  the  invaded   clouds,  130 

And  howling  Monsters  raging  round  for  blood, 
Could  not,  with  all  their  mingled  glooms  appall 
The  spirits,  or  chill  the  animating   Hopes 
Th^t  fir'd  those  gallant  Sons  of  glorious  Peril, 
And  urg'd  them  on  their  hazardous  emprise.          135 
UnharmY,  they  pass  o'er  two  tremendous  LIMBS 
Of  branching  Allegany — POWEL'S  MOUNT 
And  WALDEN'S  named — There  Nature's  rudest  wrath 
Seemed  to  have  rag'd  with  wild  disordering  power — 
Seem'd  whilom  to  have  op'd  in  warring  fray,          140 
Her  magazines  of  elemental   ire —  [Flames  i 

Her  Tempests,    Thunders,    Lightnings.    Earthquakes, 
And  rock-uprooting,  furious  WATER-SPOUTS  ! — 
Dark  yawning  ravines  choak'd  with    broken  crags, 
Hoar  rocks,  in  horror-frowning  grandeur  pil'd,         145 
Or  pyramidical,  transpiercing  deep 
The   thunder-bearing  Tempests'  cloudy  breasts — 
And  ragged  Ridges  high  on  Ridges  heap'cl ! 
All  seem'd  memorials  of  Her  phrcnzied  Mood. 
These  high  colossal   Hills  securely    poss'd,  15 

Their  mazy  course  the  Adventurers  cheerly   kept, 
Until  with  deathful  yell,  a  savage  Host 
Poured  on  their  weak  unguarded  rear,  the  storms 
Of  flaming  murder.     Then,  oh  gallant  Boone  ! 
With  Battle-swaying  Mars    thy  prowess  vied  !       15 


ADVENTURES.  147 


Thy  Guardian  Seraph's  inspirations  then 

Thou  neecledst  not.     Thy  fallen  fellows'    blood 

The  safety  of  thy  Wife,  thy   Babes,  and  Friends, 

Were  for  thy  valor  stimulant  enough  ! 

The  assailing  Demons  soon  in  wild  dismay,  160 

Fled  wounded,  bleeding,  from  the  torrent  fiames, 

Through  which  swift-flying  bullets  sought  their  lives. 

For  well  the  ruthless  onset  was  return 'd  ; 

And  dearly  were  its  blood-effusions  bought. 

But  ah!  six  valiant  sons  ol   enterprise,  165 

By  its  death-dealing,  unsuspected  blast, 

Were  from  their  relatives  and  comrades  torn ! 

'Till  then,  s«ch  scene  of  Grief  and  Woe 

Had  ne'er  been  witnessed  in  those    spectral  wilds. 

Friends,  Mothers,  Fathers,  Brothers,  Sisters,  all      170 

In  doietni  sadness  weeping  o'er  the  slain  !-— 

Uncoffin'd  in  the  sun-unmellowed  ground, 

'Neath  gloomy  Hemlock  and  dark-shaded  spruce, 

Their  noble  corses  colorless  and  cokl, 

With  Sorrow's  tearful  streamlets  were  inter'd.        175 

Conspicuous  fell  our  Hero's  eldest  son, 

His  valiant  James !     The  cruel  ball  that  rent 

The  tendrils  of  his  blooming  life  in  twain, 

And  scattered  on  the  waste  its  flow'ry  charms, 

Tore  from  the  prospering  PLANT  of  LIBERTY        180 

A  germ,  whose  rich  expanding  beauties  soon, 

Would  have  unfolded  o'er  the  ample   West  ; 

Diffusing  round  delectable   pei  fumes, 


148 

And  dropping  healthful  fruitage  on  the  lap 

Of  its  luxuriant  Land.     That  merciless  ball,  185 

In  its  disaster-dealing  impetus, 

Was  not  content,  the  crimson  citadel 

Of  human  life,  and  the  unsullied  shrine 

Of  fond  affection  only,  to  invade ; 

COLUMBIA'S  angel  bosom  felt  its   force,  190 

And  bleeding  at  the  pungent  wound  it  trench'd, 

She  sorrow'd  o'er  her  youthful  Hero's  fate. 

And  she  had  cause  to  sorrow ;  for  in  him 

She  lost  the  promise  of  a  patriot   son, 

Of  an  intrepid,  wise  and  virtuous  man  1 

Irradiated  with  the  expanding  rays 

Of  Erudition,  his  untarnished  mind, 

With  eye  intent  on  Truth's  effulgent  disk, 

Was  soaring  o'er  the  clouds  of  groveling  life. 

His  fellows  in  the  Intellectual  flight  200 

Can  well  attest,  with  what  ascending  strength 

He  scal'd  the  intervening  steeps,  and  shot 

His  genius-plumed  pinions  through  the  blaze 

That  pour'd  upon  his  soul-subliming  path  ; 

That  still  in  more  resplendent  torrents  stream'd    206 

As  nearer  to  the  lambent  Orb  he  drew. 

But  ah!  the  whizzing  pellet,  bearing  death, 

Relaxed  his  wing,  and  drown'd  his  flight  in  blood ! 

Behold  the  snowy  plumage  sinking  now, 

All  stain'd and  dripping  with  the  purp'ling  streams!  210 

Yet  see !  'tis  not  the  Spirit's  plumes  that  fall ; 


ADVENTURES.  149 

It  is  the  weaker  wing  of  mortal  life  ! 

The  wing-,  which  buoys  the  encumbering  clog  of  day  ! 

The  soul,  in  all  its  bright  embellishment, 

Is  free,  and  flies,  with  unimpeded  speed,  21 5 

To  the  supernal  goal  that  caught  its  kei; 

From  earth,  the  flaming  fount  of  holy  Truth  ! — 

My  YOUTHFUL  COUNTRYMEN  !  whom  Culture's  care 
Has  lifted  into  splendid  spheres,  behold, 
A  pattern  for  your  imitation  here !  220 

JAMES  BOONE  in  the  unbloodied  shades  of  PEACE, 
Acquiring  Wealth  and  Influence,  might  have    liv'd, 
But  more  ennobling  prospects  swell'd  his  soul  ! 
A  vast  luxuriant  Land,  yet  unreclaim'd 
From  Barb'rous  Wildness,  fir'd  his  patriot  zeal,    225 
Lmpell'd  him  to  exert  his  utmost  powers 
To  enrich  his  Country  with  the  precious  prize  ; 
And  made  him,  with  undaunted  valor,  dare 
The  dangerous  Ambushment,  where  darkling  Death 
Lurk'd  panting  for  his  unprepared  prey  ! —  230 

Oil  my  dear  youthful  Brethren  !   seize  your  swords, 
An<l  swear,  by  ail  the  blood  that  ever  smok'd 
On  Freedom's  Altars,  never  to  relax 
The  patriot  grasp  until  those  Rights  vote  free, 
Whose  purchase  cost  more  sufferings,  wealth  and  lives, 
Than  rne  rich  land  for  which  the  youthful  Boones,  236 
Our  earlier  Brethren,  bled  ! — COLUMBIAN  YOUTH  ! 
With  so  much  more  to  inflame  your  daring  fires, 
Than  fan'd  their  enterprise,  can  you  repose 


150  BOONE'S 

On  the  warm  down  of  Ease,  nor   emulate  24( 

Their  martial  ardor?     'Tis  not  Gold,  nor  Fame, 

Nor  fruitful  Forests,  nor  refinement's  cause, 

That  now  presents  excitement  to  the  soul, 

Which  loves  the  blessings  of  sweet  LIBERTY  ! 

It  is  the  thraldom  of  our  NAVAL  RIGHTS  ; 

The  oppression  of  our  Commerce  on  the   seas 

By  tyrant  Battlements,  that  ride  the  waves, 

And  roll  their  bloody  thunders  on  our  flag- ; 

That  turn  their  Cannon  on  the  face  of  Law, 

That  bury  charter'd  Industry  in  gulphs  250 

Beneath  the  flames  which  crown  the  billowy  brine, 

Through  which  our  Tars  and  burning  Vessels  sink ! 

It  is  the  misery  of  our  Naval  Sons 

Impress'd  by  lawless  RUFFIANS  on  the  Main, 

Comfiell'd  to  plunge  their  weapons  in  the  blood     255 

Of  kindred  breasts,  and  their  own  nation  wound  ! 

It  is  the  anguish  of  the  thousand  mourning  hearts, 

Whose  dearest  RELATIVES  enchain'd  and   scourg'd, 

Lie  groaning,  hopeless,  sorrow-wasted,  faint, 

In  Britain's  stygian  Dungeons  on  the  seas!  260 

Here  is  excitement  for  the  valorous  Youth, 

The  gallant  Boone's  of  our  day.     Can  the  Sons 

Of  glorious  Fathers  view  the  sacred  shrines, 

Where  their  immortal  ashes  sleep,  defil'd 

And  crush'd  beneath  a  Despot's  foot,  nor  rush      265 

In  arms  array'd,  to  avenge  their  wrongs  or  die? 

Is  not  each  lash  your  valiant  Seamen  feel. 


ADVENTURES.  151 

Contempt  to  those  who  for  our  Freedom  fought? 
Their  bones  are  mingled  with  the  dust  we  tread, 
But  still  their  sfiirits  and  their  actions  live  !  270 

Their  blood  which  stained  our  plains,  the  sun  long  since 
Has  bleach'd  ;  but  still  the  Ble&sings  which  it  bought 
In  living  lustre  glow — While  then  we  breathe 
The  inspiring  ardor  of  their  sainted  manes — 
While  then,  their  holy  deeds  their  names  adorn,  275 
And  we  the  happy  heritage  enjoy 
Their  lives  bequeath'd — shall  we  their  fame  disgrace  ? 
And  while  in  all  the  means  of  War  so   strong, 
Let  Villain-Tyrants  sever  from  our  Land, 
What,  when  so  weak,  our  Fathers  snatch'd  from  them  ! — 

Again  my  Muse  revisit  the  sad   scene,  280 

From  which  the  impassion'd  zeal,  the  glow 
Of  ardor  for  thy  weeping  Country's  weal, 
Had  borne,  though  weak  of  wing,  thy  feeble  powers. 

October's  russet  scowl  imbrown'd  the  groves,    285 
And  foliage-searing  frosts  the  cement  broke, 
Which  to  the  boughs  their  leafy  vesture  glued — 
While  melancholy  winds,  in  showers,  shook  down 
The  rustling  flakes,  in  seeming;    sympathy 
With  the  soul-wringing  sorrows,  which  convuls'd  290 
The  mourners'  breasts.     The  afflicted  Widows  now, 
And  female  kindred  of  the  hapless  slain, 
Heart-sick,  and  languid,  pleaded  to  return 
To  where  the  cheering  scenes  of  polish'd   life, 
Near  Clinch's  limestone-laving  waves,  display'd     295 


152  BOONE'S 

The  residence  of  warm  congenial  souls. 

The  meek  solicitations  and  soft  tears, 

Co-operating  \vith  their  own  distress, 

Disposed  the  bold  survivors  to  comply. 

And  much  that  course  Vas  render'd  requisite,        3QO 

By  the  dispersion  through  the  wayless  wilds, 

Of  their  affrighted  Cattle,  which  had  fled, 

With  force  impetuous,  over  Hills  and  crags, 

Through  crackling  Brakes  and  loud-resounding  Glyns- 

On  Clinch,  'till  the  succeeding  Summer  shone,  305 
Boone,  with  his  worthy  family   remain'd. 
He  then  successively,  in  dangerous  toils 
Of  high  import  engag'd. — At  Dunmore's  call 
He  lent  his  guidance  to  conduct  a  band 
Of  brave   Surveyors  of  the  Western  Soil, 
From  the  Ohio  Falls    back  to  their  Homes, 
By  routes,  through  the  dark  Wilderness,  to  them 
Before  unknown.     This  perilous  task  perform'd 
With  most  surprising  safety  skill  and    speed, 
He  then,  of  three  Militia  Garrisons,  315 

At  Dunmore's  requisition,  took  command  ; 
And  with  his  wonted  energy  and  fire, 
Attcinper'd  by  serene  deliberate  Art, 
Through  the  Campaign  against  the  Shaw'nese  Tribes, 
A  service,  mark'd  with  high  success,  sustain'd.     320 

Victorious  from  the  Northern  scenes  of  Blood, 
Subservient  to  his  Countrymen's    request, 
We  see  our  Hero  cross  his  desert  stage 


ADVENTURES.  153 

And  on  its  Southern  border  rise  to  view, 

Performing  there  a  new  but  arduous  fiart^  32$ 

Evincing  talents  -versatile  as  strong  ! 

And  skill'd  as  well  in  Council  as  in  War. 

He  meets  the  Sachems  of  the  Cherokees 

At  wild  Wataga,  and  a  pact  concludes 

By  viitue  of  his  delegated  powers,  330 

For  purchasing  a  part  of  their  waste  lands. 

This  Embassy  accomplish'd,  he  collects 

A  band  of  hardy  Woodsmen,  strong  and  brave, 

And  from  the  verge  of  the  rough  Wilderness, 

Where  Holstein's  mountain-compass'd  current  rolls  335 

To  wild  Kentucky's  cedar-shadow 'd  waves, 

A  Road  through  the  unwounded  Forest  cleaves. 

The  sculking  Foe  from  his  deep-tangled  haunts, 

Oft  on  their  way,  the  sounding  axes  brought ; 

And  their  death-ringing  Rifles  drove  as  oft  340 

The  fierce  assailant  back.     On  either  side, 

From  flesh-torn  founts,  the  conflict  often  stream'd 

In  rills  of  smoking  crimson.     Sometimes  too, 

'Twas  blanch'd  by  the  pale  hand  of  life-fed  Death. 

But  nought  the  Vigor  of  their  Zeal  could  stay.    345 

Before  its  power  the  giant  timber  fell, 

And  through  a  Host  of  ruthless  Remoras, 

Its  strong  unpalsied  arm  a  passage  hew'd. 

Behold  the  first  grand  CONDUIT  now  complete, 

Through  which,  to  the  dark  wastes  of  savage  night,  350 

From  their  bright  Eastern  seas,  REFINEMENT'S  FIOODS 


154  BOONE'S 

Effulgent  flow  ! Now  on  Kentucky's  bank, 

In  haste,  a  Fortress  the  Adventurers  rear. 

And  thither  Boone  from  Clinch  his  Family   brings. 

The  wondering  GENIUS  of  the    Wilderness, 

Embellish'd  with  the  fragrance-breathing   blooms   355 

Of  May,  flew  from  the  flower-deck'd  solitudes 

To  snatch  a  glance  at  the  new  Visitants, 

Boone's  darling  Consort  and  sweet  lovely  Maids, 

The  first  fair  Females  that  e'er  grac'd  those  Wilds  ! — 

With  more  harmonic  rapture  seem'd  the   songs     360 

Of  feather'd  extacy  to  warble  loose 

Among  the  umbrageous  wood  ;  and  the  rich  flowers 

Seem'd  to  unfold  in  tints  more  deep-defin'd 

Their  gay  variety^—  The  bladed   brakes  365 

Impainted  with  a  livelier  green  appear'd. 

The  wild-wood  zephyrs  from  their  winglcts  seem'd 

A  sweeter  odor  round  the  groves  to  shake  ; 

While  the  deep  gloom-envelop'd  wastes,  with  beams 

Of  transport-kindling  radiance  seem'd  illum'd.         370 

And  well  indeed  such  animating  change 

Might  then  appear  through  that  untamed   abod« 

Of  Wildness,  Rowlings,  and  ferocious  Rage  ; 

For  polish'd  Beauty's  love-emiting  eye, 

And  darkness-scattering  smile,  in  that  new  world,  37f 

Were  then  first  shed,     Oh  Beauty !  bright  with  soul ; 

Seraphic  Quintescence  of  blended  powers 

Terrestrial  and  supernal !     Sweet  compound 

Of  Mortal  and  Divine  I     Thy  charms  can  lij;ht 


ADVENTURES.  135 

Within  the   breast  that  lives  in  darkest  solitude     38Q 
\n  aromatic-odor'd,  pure-beam'd  lamp ; 
And  in  the  deep  untrodden  Dell  where  Man, 
Refined  and  reasoning  Man,  ne'er  bwath'd  before, 
The  lone  Itinerant's  musing  mind  can  cheer  : 
Can  animate  with  pleasures  more   infus'd  385 

In  bliss,  its  silent  powers,  than  ever  flow 
From  the  less  gentle  spring  of  social   Mirth  : 
And  they  can  also  shake  the  loftiest  soul, 
And  with  the  thorns  of  keen  inquietude 
The  bravest  Hero's  hardy  breast  transpierce.          390 
The  experience  of  the  gallant  Henderson 
Can  well  this  truth  attest.     His  daring  heart, 
In  Carolina's  cultur'd  shades,  conceiv'd 
The  bosom-softening  flame  of  first-felt  Love. 
In  his  wild-flut'ring  Breast,  of  Hope  and  Fear       3§5 
The  doubtful  balance  hung. — His  tender   wiles 
Had  from  his  dear  Eliza's  guarded  lips 
No  hope-confirming,  kind  confession  drawn  ; 
Nor  had,  from  his  own  mellow-murm'ring  tongue, 
A  clear  avowal  of  his  passion  flown  ;  400 

When,  with  the  brave  illustrious   Calaway, 
Her  noble  Father,  she  forsook  the    scenes 
Of  social  elegance  and  peaceful  ease  ; 
Migrated  to  Kentucky's  flow'ry  glooms, 
And  shelter'd  in  the  Fort  of  their  lov'd  Friend,     405 
The  generous,  kind,  and  hospitable  Boone. 
Young  Henderson's  too  independent   heart 


156  BOONE'S 

Upbraided  the  fastidious  folly  now, 

Which  sought  some  token  of  her  love  for  /dm, 

Before  it  ventured  to  declare  what  oft  410 

His  soften'd  eye,  and  sadden'd  mien  had  told. 

Her  every  smiling  glance  and  gentle  word, 

Which,  ere  her  absence,  were,  as    courtesies, 

Resulting  from  her  kind  Angelic  Soul, 

As  mere  attentions  shewn  to  all  her  friends, 

Regarded  ;  now  a  tenderer  form  assum'd, 

And  to  his  melancholy  Fancy   seem'd 

The  soothing  signs  of  sweet  Encouragement ! 

Pale  languishment  hung  on  his  changing  cheek, 

While  festive  merriment  in  vain   essay'd  420 

To  wake  his  wonted  smiles,  or  reinvest, 

His  eye  with  cheerful  lustre.     Nature's  bloom, 

The  blazing  Majesty  of  clay,  and    all 

The  azure-sprinkling  splendors  of  the  Night ; 

Crown'd  by  her  queen,  the  sky-ascending  Moon 

To  him  seem'd  of  their  soul-elating  charms 

Divested.     Pensiv^  mournful  and  alone, 

He  wander'd  through  the   sorrow-murm'ring  Glades, 

Or  solemn,  gloom-impressive  gioves  ;  and  fed 

With  plaintive  sounds,  the  peace-corroding  fires    430 

That  agoniz'd  his  sadly-sighing  breast. 

E'en  Sleep's,  balm-dropping  wings  could  not  appease 

The  fev'rish  Ardor,  nor  their  cooling   plumes 

Upon  the  ever  restless  flame  repose  j 

But  with  incessa.ut  flutter  through  the  Night        435 


ADVENTURES.  157 

is  tortured  temples  beat ;  and  dreary  dreams 
Drove  wildly  through  his  phrenzy-clizzied  brain. 
At  length,  by  the  unconqueied  flame   itnpel'd, 
His  loved  E;iza  he  resolv'd  to  find, 
And  forthwith  through  the  frowning  forests  hied.  44$ 
The  healthful  fragrance  of  the  Hills,  and  all 
The  flowery  Beauties  scattered  loosely  wild, 
And  rude  sublimity,  abrupt  and  vast, 
Of  the   broad    phins  and  thunder-batter'd  Mounts, 
Conspir'd  to  vivify  and  elevate  445 

His  low-dejected  heart,  and  g've  a  tone 
Of  higher  vigor  to  his  languid  nerves. 

Hope  in  his  bosom  throb'd  with  stronger  pulse, 
As  kind   Reflection  whisper'd  to  his  heart, 
That  fewer  Rivals,  in  the  unpeopled  Waste,  450 

Would  with  his  tender  Courtship  interfere,    * 
Or  wind  his  f.ite  in  labyrinths  of  doubt ;  • 
That  Love's  impassion'd  impulse,  playing  warm 
Upon  the  feeling  chords  of  her  soft  heart, 
Would  make  them  thrill  and  tenderly  respond       455 
To  the  first  passion  of  accordant  Note, 
Vibrating  in  a  young  and  generous  breast, 
And  fair  unfolded  to  her  anxious  ear  ; 
That  frolic  Nature's  wild-wood  solitudes, 
So  with  sweet  love  awaking  Music  fill'd,  46* 

With  soul-enticing  shades  and  Beauty-border'd  streams  ; 
With  flower-born  gales  and  breezes  fruit-perfum'd, 

hversified  ;  would  melt  to  softer  sense 
O 


158  EOONE  S 

Her  warm  susceptive  bosom,  and  impart 
Through  all  her  tingling  veins  emotions  kind, 
And  tenderly  devoted  to  the  God 
Of  sexual  Love.     He  found  his  Charmer  fair 
And  lovely  as  before.     The  deepen'd  blush 
Of  cheerful  Health  and  freshest  Beauty,  ting'd 
Her  smiling  cheek. — Her  lustre-streaming  eye 
With  thoughtful  tenderness  divinely  shone  ; 
Her  graceful  symmetry  of  person  seem'd, 
Celestial  elegance  by  Nature's  skill 
Transfer'd  to  earthly   Beauty.     Sweetly  soft 
Her  honey-breathing  lips  their  strains  effus'd 
Now  in  convivial  con-vcrae,  now  in  songs 
Of  tcnderest  melody.     Their  Interview, 
On  either  side,  confusion  mark'd  ;  but  most 
His  agitated  mien  and  downcast  eye, 
Th'unerving  power  of  timid  love  betrayed. 

His  resolution  to  disclose  his  heart, 
Her  presence  weaken'd.     Torturing  Distrust 
Again  perplex'd  his  peace,  and  in  the  cup 
Of  his  distresses,  Jealousy  infus'd 
A  portion  of  its  poison-mingled  Gall  ; 
For,  even  to  her  new  and  wild  abode, 
Besides  himself,  her  winning  charms  had  drawn 
Other  Admirers  from  the  social  scenes, 
Where  first  upon  their  fascinated  hearts 
Her  dangerous  glances  flash'd.     Her  kindness  beanrd 
On  all,  for  all  were  brave  deserving  Youth;  491 


ADVENTURES.  159 


But  prudence  check'd  each  smile  that  might  beseem 
Approvance  of  their  fond  pietensions,  save 
When  now  and  then  a  pleasing-  glance  confused, 
,.  And  languid,  met  the  inquiring-  pensive  eye  495 

Of  Henderson.     Another  Summer  came, 
And  found  his  hopes  still  unconfirm'd,  for  still. 
His  soul  too  sensative  to  risk  repulse, 
An  evidence  of  her  Affection  sought, 
Before  it  urged  without  reserve  its  suit  ;  500 

But  still  a  studied  Mystery  in  act 
And  language,  from  his  watchful  view  conceal'd 
The  secret  bias  of  her  peerless  heart. 
But,  as  the  clouded  Winter's  clo&ing  storm, 
Frowning  in  deeper  darkness  than  o'ercast  505 

Ere  then  the  Sun  ;  precursive,  heralds  Spring's 
Revivifying  radiance  ;  so  a  gloom 
Of  murkier  depth  that  roll'd  convolving  o'er 
LIU  sombre  Hopes,  was  soon  the  Harbinger- 
Of  love  illumined  Happiness  and  Joy.  510 

Invited  by  the  multifarious  charms 
Which  bloom'd  and  danced  upon  the  sunny  cheek 
Of  a  serenely  smiling  Summer  Eve, 
He  and  his  fair  Eliza  left  the  Fort, 
T 'enjoy,  in  company  with  their  juvenile  friends,     515 
Benignant  Nature's  animating  sweets. 
Behind  the  gleeful  grotipe,  Boone  and  his  friend, 
Sage  Calaway  in  social  converse  waik'd  ; 

ad  with  paternal  pleasure  vicw'ct  the  mirth 


16®  BOONE'S 

And  playful  merriment  of  rapturous  Youth.  520 

Upon  Kentucky's  flowery-bonier VI   I  'ik 
Beneath  the  umbrageous  boughs  ot  Vine-hung  beech 
They  cheerily  reclined,  while  in  Canoes 
The  jocund  band  the  flowing  crystal  cleav'd. 
5Twas  summer's  sweetest  hour;  the  sinking  Sun     S2o 
Hung  red  and  ragged  in  the  Western  trees, 
Wide  poui'd  his  evening  radiance  o'er  the  peeks 
Of  distant  Ailegany,  and  diffused 
Through  waving  Willows  o'er  the  glidii;g  flood 
A  chequer'd  gleam.      Soft-winnowing    breezes  play'ci 
Among  the  Aromatic  sprays,  and  fan'd  531 

The  slightly  fretted  stream  ;  caress'd  the  cheeks, 
And  wanton'd  with  the  silky-flowing  locks 
That  hung  their  jetty  tendrils  iong  and  loose, 
O'er  the  white  necks  and  sofily  swelling  breasts, 
Of  beautiful  Eliza  and  her  fuir 
And  elegant  associates. — Every  branch 
Of  the  contiguous  wood  was  fili'd  with  life 
And  melody.     The  enamor'd  Henderson, 
As  o'er  the  form-depicturing-  stream  sl.c  saii'd, 
Beheld  his  Charmer  with   increasing  /ovc, 
Ana  fancied  her  the  River's  v^aial  Ny 
T:  e  Aixthusa  ol  its  sylvan  w^ves  ; 
And  kindling  at  the:  luve-creauu 
\Va-:  '<:y   its  m-igic   tern  Jit  cd   to   t     .-.aci.-,  .      545 

U'.T  graceful  in.iv^e  in  the   w::iciy    Minor- 
Buck  to  the  bank,  their  littic  beechcn  Boats, 


ADVENTURES.  **M 

At  Beauty's  word,  the  dexterous  rowers  shot ; 
Aiul  o'er  the  fruit-hung  flower-empurpled  shore, 
To  gather  Garlands  to  inwreathe  their  brows          550 
The  V.vci'.tiy-blooming   Maidens  gayly  ran  ; 
When  from  a  dark  cane  thicket  growing  near, 
A  band  of  Ruffian  Indians  fiercely  sprang, 
And  siczing  fair  Eliza  Calaway, 

Her  charming  Sister  Frances  too,  and  Boone's      553 
High-soul'd   Jemima,  bore  them  through  the  Brake  ! 
In  vain,  for  aid  the  lovely  Captives  cried  ; 
Before  their  brave  protectors  reach'd  their  Guns, 
The  arm'd  Barbarians,  stifling  the  weak  phunts 
The  feeble  Damsels  pour'd,  were  deep-conceal'd  560 
In  the  entangled  wild. — Until  the  glooms 
Of  gathering  Night  absorb'd  the  beams  of  day ; 
Brave  Henderson,  the  ymmgcr  Calaway, 
With  valiant  Holden  and  four  Heroes  more, 
Led  by  their  vengeance-burning  Chieftain  Boone,  565 
The  Savages  pursued.     The  heavy  Night 
Encotnpass'd  thick  with  awful  Horrors  drear, 
Upon  the  weary  wings  of  vulture  Woe, 
O'er  the  unsleeping  Heroes  slowly  pass'd. 
Vuloslto's  lancinating  Agonies  570 

At  his  Melcena's  situation,  Boone 
In  all  their  torturing  force  now  realized. 
His  soul  with  all  a  parent's  tenderest  pains, 

And  injur'd  Valor's  daring  passions  burn'd. 

By  agitating  tumults  toss'd,  not  less  $75 


III 


162  BOONE'S 

The  Lovers'  bosoms  felt  the  wringing  pangs 

Of  Grief,  nor  less  with  restless  Vengeance  glow'd. 

Not  only  Henderson,  but  Holden  too, 
And  Flanders  Calaway,  the  peace-fed  flame 
Of  tortured  LOVE-AFFECTION  deeply  felt.  58O 

For  Holden's  heart,  th'angelic  Fanny's  charms 
Had  melted  into  fondest  tenderness ; 
But  he  with  noble  frankness  had  declared 
His  anxious  wishes,  and  th'extatic  bliss 
Enjoy'd,  of  feeling  the  benignant  smiles 
Of  kind  Encouragement,  diffusing  warm 
Their  genial  rays  among  th'expanding  blooms 
Of  his  luxuriant  Hopes.     Young  Calaway's 
Susceptive  bosom,  sweet  Jemima  Boone 
Had  animated  with  the  Jlamelens  spark  590 

Of  new-enkindled  Love,  whose  infant    beams 
Burn3d  not  as  yet  with  ardency  intense  ; 
But  like  the  placid  Spring's  demulcent  light, 
That  streams  into  the  half-unfolded  flowers, 
And  spreads  their  flecker'd  petals  to  the  breeze,  595 
They  mildly  glided  througfh  his  swelling  heart  ; 
And  gently  oped  to  Pleasure's  odorous  breath 
Its  velvet-lined  cells  and  silken  folds. 
Her  budding  bosom,  new  to  the  wild  thrill 
Of  soul-dissolving  Love,  his  soft  devoirs,  600 

With  tingling  glow,  had  tenderly  inspired. 
But  wondering  at  th'emotions  strange,  their  cause 
She  scarcely  knew  :     Nor  would  her  age  permit 


ADVENTURES.  I G3 

The  gallant  Flanders  yet  t'unfold  his  flame, 
Or  his  love-born  Anticipations  tell.  605 

Long  would  it  take  to  sing  the  boding  frights,        • 
And  Visions  gloomy,  woeful,  drear,  and  vague  ; 
Which  flitted  ceaselessly  athwart  the  souls 
Of  the  heroic  Lovers  that  dread  Night. 

The  heart-wrung  tender  Captives  10  c fit  away,     610 
In  all  the  miseries  of  horrid  Fear, 
The  bosom-burdening  slow-dissolving  hours. 
No  more  they  expected  e'er  again  to  see, 
Their  darling  Fathers,  Mothers,  Friends, 
Or  gallant  Lovers  !  Death,  or  direr  still,  615 

The  dreadful  Wretchedness  and  lingering  Woes 
Of  savage  bondage,  seem'd  their  fearful  doom. 
The  wild  gesticulations,  grimaces 
Blood-curdling  yells,  and  fury-glaring  eyes, 
Of  the  Barbarian  Captors  shook  with  dread  620 

And  heart-convulsing  terrors,  their  rack'd  souls. 
To  make  their  midnight  moments  still  more  drear, 
Their  thin-clad  limbs,  the  cold  dew-dripping  breeze 

[pour'd 

With  dampness  chill'd  ;  while  screaming  Night-Birds 
Shrill-quavering  Discord  through  the.shivering  glooms. 

Terrific  Wildcats,  Wolves,  and  Panthers  prowl'd, 
Blood-hungering  through  the  murder-wailing  wastes 
And  mix'd  their  cruel-toned  Vociferations, 
With  the   death  plaints  of  their  expiring  prey. 

Nights  environ'd  thus  with  Horrors  wild,      630 


144  BOONE  S 

Funereal,  bloody,  terrible,  and  fierce  ! 
And  compass'd  close  by  Caitiff's  still  more  cli 
The  Wolf-like  savages,  whose  wanton  flames 
And  Brutal  Rudeness,  Beauty's  vestal  bloom, 
And  ang-cl  purity  could  not  abate  ; 
And  which,  had  not  a  spark  of  purer  ray 
And  more  ethereal  essence  warm'd  the  breast 
Of  their  less  barbarous  CHIEF,  might  uncontiol'd 
Have  treated  with  indignity,  and  shock'd 
With  ruffim  Insolence,  the  fenceless  Maids. 
But  Costea's  lofty  soul  disdain'd  its  wrath 
Upon  defenceless  female  heads  to  wreak. 
His  brenst  with  all  the  wild  impetuous  fires 
Of  nobler  vengeance  burn'cl  against  the  white 
'Though  from  the  altitude  of  splendid  War,  645 

To  siefee  their  Women  he  descended  ;  yet 
'Twas     not  t'insult,  and  treat  with  cruelty 
The  hapless  Captives  ;  but  to  tear  with  pain 
The  warrior  Whitemen's  breasts,  whom  on  fair  ground' 
If  feasible,  he  would  have  nobly  fought.  65O 

Their  snowy  hands,  and  sorrow  -streaming  eyes, 
To  him  the  trembling  Maids  for  Mercy  raised  ; 
And  on  their  knees,  with  pleading  looks  implored 
His  pity.     His  superior  air  and  mien. 
His  station  and  controlling  power,  bespake  ;  653 

And  softening  into  gentler  cast,  inspired 
The  mourning  Sufferers  with  a  gleam  of  Hope. 
He  was  3  Chief  in  Manhood's  vigorous  prime  ; 


ADVENTURES.  165 


3 f  stature  lofty,  strait,  and  dignified — 

Strong,  Muscular  and  springy  were  his  limbs ;      66S 

\nd  haughty  elevation  mark'd  his  step. 

\  tinge  of  tawny  red  glow'd  on  his  cheek — 

His  keen  dark  eye  with  steady  lustre  shone, 

And  seem'd  the  fount  of  fiery  ire,  assuaged 

By  mingling  emanations  less  severe  665 

Of  kinder  passions.— But  when  kindling  Rage 

inflamed  his  quick  excited  soul,  his  Wrath 

Shot  from  his  eye  a  stream  of  fiercest  flame, 

Tnat  burn'd  each  softer  beam,  and   wither'd  Fear 

Wheree'er  in  Opposition  found.     His  brows,          67?) 

In  semicircles  darkly  shadowing  o'er 

The  flashing  orbs  below,  like  arching  ck    r?s 

Black,  broad,  and  bending  high  above  two  s'     o 

Of  burning  fulgour,  lowerd  with  changing  gig  ;rrr> — 

Yet  when  a  milder  mood  relax'd  the  cords  675 

On  which  they  hung,  a  lighter  shade  they  shed. 

But  when  infuriated  rage  cohstringtd 
Those  frown-controlling  fibres,  blackness  thick, 
Tempestuous,  awful  roil'd  convolving  round 
His  bending  brow— His   A;;pect  was  austere;          680 
His  forehead  swart  ;  his  cheek  bones  sharp  and  high  ; 
His  Nose  broad-based)  long-curv'd  wide-nostril'd,  huge  ; 
His  chin  pro'.ubcrc-nt,  large  ;  and  large  and  lean, 
His  ponderous   •  a>  s  ;  and  rough  and  deep  his  voice. — 
Such  was  the  Savage  Chief,  ou  whom  alone  6is» 

The  Captive  Maids  for  tenderness  relied. 


166 


BOONE  S 


Nor  was  their  feeble  confidence  misplaced  ; 

His  mandatory  frown  each  look  forbid, 

Or  freedom,  that  might  shake  with  dread  their  breasts, 

Or  wound  their  Modesty. 

Boone  and  his  band,      690 
As  soon  as  Dawn  upon  the  forests  shed 
The  dappled  day,  their  perilous  pursuit 
Intentively  resumed — And  Night  again 
Enshrouded  Nature  in  her  spectral  glooms, 
And  still  the  flying  foe  was  not  ,o'ertaken.  695 

But  on  the  Eve   of  the  succeeding  day, 
Our  daring  Heroes  the  dark  Fiends  descried  ! 
Who  in  their  van  drove  on  the  feeble    Fair. 
With  souls  all  flame,  at  their  great  Leader's  side, 
Accompanied  by  their  bold  intrepid  Friends  ;          7 
Tile  vengeful  Lovers  rushed  resistless  i 
And  pour'd  their  dcathful  thunder  through  the  rear 
Of  the  unguarded  Sa-. ages;  whose  blood 
From  many  a  wound  effusing,  witness  bare 
Thst  well  the  charge  was  aim'd,  and  its  result     705 
propitious. — Gasping  grimly  in  their  gore, 
Death  stiffening,  pallid,  on  the  weedy  ground, 
Two  of  their  fiercest  warriors  hy  outstretch'd  ! 
Forsaking  the  astounded  Captives,  fled 
Their  bleeding  residue — All,  save  their  Chief,       710 
The  dauntless  Costea — He,  confronting  fierce 
The  gallant  Whites,  his  whizzing  lead  discharged  ; 
Which  through  the  sulph'r.ous  smoke  around  them  roll'd, 


ADVENTURES.  167 


"lew  ineffective — Forced  for  life  to  flee, 
Amid  the  thickets  sheltering  maze  he  plunged.    715 
Th'enfranchised  Damsels,  in  a  trance  of  Joy, 
Their  clear  Deliverers  met — Dissolving  Bliss 
Soft-flowing  from  their  Beauty  beaming  eyes, 
Their  velvet  cheeks  and  lovely  breasts  bedew'd. 
Into  th'angelic  air  of  thankful  love,  720 

And  fond  Affection's  tenderest  Gratitude, 
Divinely  melted  was  their  beauteous  mien  ! 
A  thousand  love-born  extacies   ensued, 
And  sweet  vibrations  of  the  thrilling  cords, 
On  which  warm  FEELING'S  scrap. i   fingers  play  !  725 
This  was  the  happy  time  for  Love  to  learn 
His  Destiny — And  Henderson,  as  home 
Tiiey  travel'd,  told  the  tumults  of  his  heart  ; 
And  warmly  press'd  Eliza  to  pronounce 
His  fate.     Upon  his  arm,  She  blushing,  lean'd,     730 
And  modestly  confess'd  her  bo:-om  felt, 
A  tenderness  congenial  with  his  own. 

While  on  her  charms,  his  humid  eye-beams  pour'd, 
His  glowing  soul  in  fluttering  extacy, 
The  rich  excess  of  sweetest  Love  enjoy 'd.  73$ 

Upon  her  burning,  honey-moisten'd  lips, 
A  heart-born  Kiss  he  imprinted,  unperceived. 
Could  he  have  been  from  Observation's  eye, 
That  long  secure  ;  no  happiness  to  him 
For  a  whole  day  had  been  so  exquisite,  740 

As  te  have  press'd  that  time  those  nectar'd  buds  ; 


1-68  BOONE'S  ADVENTURES. 

And  s'le  no  less  than  him  the  sweet  salute 
Would  have  enjoy'd.     Pale  Melancholy's  shades, 
The  \vinp;s  of  rapture  scatter'd  from  his  soul, 
And  a  bright  paradise  seem'd  blooming  round.      74 
No  more  when  traversing  the  green-rob'd  Hills, 
And  flower-perfum'd  Campaigns,  broke  from  his  breast 
The  heart-cor.vulsing  Storms  of  thorn-charg'd  sighs  : 
The  lonesome  Solitudes  had  now  to  him 
Th'enlivenLng  charms  of  sweet  society.  '  7st 

Benignant  Love  breathed  balmy  blessings  round  : 
And  fair  Eliza's  Beauty  seem'd  to  bloom 
In  every  flower  and  blossom  of  the  Wild  ; 
And  every  tuneful  note  that  sweetly  trill'd 
From  the  harmonious  Warblers  of  the  Groves,      755 
Seemed  but  the  echo  of  her  flowing  Voice  1 

Heroic  Holden  also  touched  with  hand 
More  venturous,  the  tender-noted  lyre 
Of  Love  ;  and  drew  a  melody  still  more 
Enrapturing  and  divine  than  charmed  ere  then       769 
His  melting  heart — And  Flanders  Calaway, 
By  soft  collision  of  their  eyes  and  lips, 
Elicited  from  his  Jemima's  soul 
A  brighter  flow  of  scintillations  warm, 
Than  sparkled  on  his  doating  gaze  before  ;  705 

And  as  their  several  states  best  suited,  they. 
The  happy  Coup'es  1  all  successively 
At  Hymen's  love  enkindled  Altar  bow'd  ; 
And  on  its  sacred  flame,  the  votive  Oil 
Of  Celibacy's  Sliver  Vase  effused.  770 


THE 


ADVENTURES 


OF 


DANIEL  BOONE. 


BOOK  VI. 


ARGUMENT. 

AN  accession  of  families  attracted  to  the  Wilderness. 
Boone  alleviates  their  distresses.      1  to  18-      The  Venge 
ance    of  the  Indians,  Jired  by    the  inroads    upon    their 
haunts,  and  the  operations  of  demoniac  malignity,  annoys 
the  rising   settlement  ;   and  breaks  forth  m  repeated  but 
unsuccessful  assaults  upon  the  Forts.    19  to  89.     A  re  in 
fer  cement  arrives,  and  the  Natives  are  awed  into  tempo 
rary  forbearance.   89  to  105.    Boone  accompanies  a  parly 
tn  Licking  Salines,  and  on  a  hunting  excursion    is  sdzed 
by  the  Savages,  and  with  his   companions   to/to    are    a/so 
captured,    is    convened  to    CJiilicothc.    His   influence   lift- 
on  the  Shawanese  King;  exertions  to  appease  the   Savug- 
fs  ;  is  removed  to  Detroit  ;  insfiiref'general  respect  ;  t.ic- 
citm    sympathy    and  wak<ns    serious    reflections   in    the 
breast  of  the  British  Commandant,  ivho  vainly  attempts 
to  purchase  his  release,    105  to  181.    He  is  taken  back  to 
ChilicotJie  ;    engages  the  affections  of  his  Ciifitors  ;  is   a- 
doptcd  into  one  of  their  families  ;  joins  in  their  hunts  ;  and 
pr'-tscnts  his  game  tn  the  King  with  whom  he  amuse*  h:m- 
st'lfin  converse.    182  to  217.    Account  of  Mont  our.   218 
to  269.    His  History  of  the  Mammoth.    270  to  370.    Boone 
describes  to  him  the  powers  of  Rejinemcnt,  and  purtiu  ly 
avert;,    his    enmity  to    the   Whites  ;    his    Death  ;  Save  %e 
mourning.     371    to  424.       Coluxo's   Apostrophe  to  him  ; 
and  hin  burial.    425  to  483.    Effects  of  his  D^ath.    Boone 
tuksii  to  Sciota';  Beauty  of  the  Country,  and  its  influence 
on  Boone.    Disposition  of  the  Foe  ;   on  Loone's  return  to 
Chilicothe  he  folds  them  prepared, to  march  against  his 
Fort.     They  are  excited  by  England.     Boone  flits  to   'he 
relief  of  his    Fortress.     A  disappointment  ;  its  cause  and 
alleviation.    484  to  584.     Preparation  to  receive  the  Foe' 
The  Siege  and  Refiulaion  of  the  Assailants. 


THE 


ADVENTURES 


DANIEL   BOONE. 


BOOK  VI. 


THE  Western  Wilderness  had  now  begun 
To  pour  its  fragrance  with  attractive  power, 
Wide  o'er  Columbia's  cultivated  states  ; 
And  several  families  to  its  solitudes 
H  id  charm'd.     Innumerons  were  the  dangers,  pains,  5 
Perplexities,  and   hardships,  which  beset 
On  every  side  *he  infant   settlers.     Boone, 
With  warm  benevolence  their  wants  relieved ; 
And  his  protecting  shield  before  them  threw, 
When  DANGER  menacing  their  daring  breasts,  10 

Drew  from  its  quiver' d  side  the  gory  shafts 
Of  Death.     The  sick,  the  poor,  the  timid,  all, 
His  friendship  and  munificence  partook. 
Fatigue-emaciated  females,  babes 
Vith  hunger,  wan  and  weeping,  often   own'd  15 


172  BOONE'S 

His  generous  aid,  and  with  their  tear-dew'd   smiles, 

And  looks  of  tender  gratit'lde  repaid 

His  bounteous  kindness.     Furiously  incensed 

With  the  incursions  on  their  rude  domain, 

And  by  the  caitiff  fiends  of  nether  Night  impel'd ;  20 

The  ruthless  natives  marshal'd  all  their  might, 

The  feeble  colony  to  mar ;  to  tear, 

Divine  Refinement's  pullulating  plants 

From  their  destruction-compass'd  beds,  and  blast 

Their  little  tender  blooms  !  Ah  !  much  indeed         25 

By  the  rude  rage  of  barbarous  violence, 

The  fragrant  germs  were  ravaged  torn  and  chi 

But  still  their  bold  protector's  guardian   arm 

The  extirpation-threatening  powers    repel'd. 

Ofttimes  the  feeble  Fortresses,  the   brunt  SO 

Of  fierce  assault  sustain'd ;  and  often    fell, 

Behind  the  startled  team,  the  murder'd  swain  ; 

The  family's  laboring  stay  !  and  bleeding  died, 

In  the  unsupported  plough's  uufinish'd  trench. 

Hostilities  of  minor  moment  thus  were    waged,        3$ 

Until  the  opening  ot  another   spring. 

Tl.en  savage  WAR'S  blood-streaming  orb  began, 

With  more  portentous  tenor  o'er  the   wild, 

']   ,   !ifi  its  awful  dibii.     Assembled  hordes 

(   '   the   i,on'a<;  foe,  our  Hero's  Fort  40 

h   furious  ?nge  attack'*.!.     The  well  wrought  walls 
Indignantly  the  thundering  shock  withstood: 
Its  fires  the  gallant  garrison   retuni'd, 


ADVENTURES.  173 

With  t'.'iple  execution.     Costea  led 

The  tawny  bands,  and  saw  with  painful    rage,  45 

Their  bleeding  ranks  cut  down.     Reluctai  tly 

.'\t  length  the  siege  was  raised  ;  and  through  the  brakes, 

The  fallen  Indians'  breathless  bodies  clrag'd, 

To   where  the  howling  Squaws  with  anguish  mourn'd, 

Their  lifeless  warriors'  fate.     Defeat  but   fired         50 

The  fiends  with  hotter  fury.     Costea's    soul 

Kor  dreadful  vengeance  flamed.  From  breast  to  breast, 

The  burning  passions  spread  their  kindling  rage  ; 

And  soon  the  yell  and  war-hoop  shook  the  hills, 

And  echoed  o'er  the  forests'  drear  expanse.  55 

Like  clouds  electric  scatter'd  round  the    Heavens, 

In   small  detachments  ireful,  dusky,   red, 

When  the  discordant  wrath  and  tumults  fierce 

Of  jarring  matter,  into  masses  chive 

Their  angry  bands  ;  so  rush'd  the    savage  hordes,  60 

]>y  fury   urged,  and  foim'd  a  direful    Host. 

Their  Chiefs  in   short   harangue,  the  ills  portray'd 

That  o'er  their  heads  hi  tlncutt-iiiug  horrors   hung. 

[grasp , 

They  bade  them  save  from  WHITEMEN'S   plundering 

[streams, 

Tlieir  ground,  their  game,  their   fruit,    their  fish,  their 
Their  Freedom,  Peace,  their  Children,  Wives  and  ALL  ! 

To  break  t;>eir  strength,  the  different  Forts  67 

By  the  divided  ruffians  were  bcsieg'd. 
Oa  either  side  much  biuod  the  conflicts  mark'd  j 


174  BOONE'S 

But  such  the  valo",  energy  and  skill  70 

Of  liie  advent'rous  Settlers,  that  theii1  guns 

The  plumes  of  daring  confidence  shot  oft', 

Which  proudly  wav'd  above  the  savage  heads, 

And  drove  again  the  bleeding  legions  back 

To  their  rude  huis.     The  flaming  tempest  hurl'd     75 

Its  heaviest  bolts  agan.st  the  garrison 

Of  Boone.     Two  days  and  nights  the  volley'd  blast!: 

Upon  the  bastion'd  fortress  ceaseless  beat. 

But,  from,  the  little  Bulwark's  guarded   band, 

A  counter  storm,  on  which  death-dealing    rode         i)0 

Destruction's  Angel  terrible  and   dark, 

Incessantly  was  clriv'n,  until  the  foe, 

In  bloody  ghastliness,  and  sullen  rage, 

Retir'd — But  still  their  ire  was  not  ailay'd — 

Their  savage  armies  every  week  assaii'd  85 

Tne  suffering  Settlers.     Logan's  Station  stood, 

With  valorous  strength,  a  fierce  distressful    siege  j 

And  Harrod's  too  repel'd  the  roaiing  shocks 

Of  many  a  powerful  assault.     At  length, 

From  Carolina  and  Virginia  came 

To  their  relief  a  timely  aid  ;  and  strung 

With  nerves  of  more  intrepid  enterprise 

Their  sinking  spirits.     S^rengthen'd  thus,  their  power, 

For  months,  in  each  succeeding  battle  blnz'd, 

In  hotter  torrents  on  the  assailants  heads  ;  95 

And  hurried  headlong  into  the  deep  gurge 

Of  dark  Eternity,  the  yelling  ghosts 


ADVENTURES.  175 

Of  many -a  ghastly  corse. 

The  foe  thus  foil'd, 

Began  to  feel  and  dread  the  conquering  force 
Of  the  "  LONG  KNIFE."     Its  anger-sharpen'd  edge   100 
They  found  resistless  as  the  scythe  of  Death  ! — 
The  blood-polluted  glooms   that  dim'd  the  West, 
Now  'gan   a  more  propitious  face  to  wear ; 
And  from  the  attenuated  Darkness  broke, 
At  intervals,  bright  gleams.     But  Boone  not  long   105 
In  the  benignant  coruscations  bask'd. 
All  times  dispos'd  and  sedulous  to  serve 
The  Settlers,  he  to  Licking  River  went, 
With  a  small  patty  of  industrious  men, 
To  explore  and  chrystallize  the  saline  streams,       110 
And  suit  for  the  brave  Garrisons   procure. 
Through  Winter's  bleakest  reign,  alternately 
In  the  kind  task  his  coajuvancy 
Was  giv'n,  by  labor  at  the  evaporating  fires. 
And  procuration  of  the  forest  food,  115 

On  which  himself  and  comrades  were  snstain'd. 

One  day,  as  through  the  wiiui-strip'd  Wilderness 
He  sought  the  needful  game,  an  ambush'd   host 
Of  the  red  foe  from  their  cane-covert  rush'cl, 
Slnd  made  him  cafitivc  !  Thence  to  theBuie    Licks,    120 
Where  at  their  salterns  his  companions  wi ought, 
They  hied,  and  them  too  in  their  captive   toiis 
Involv'd.     To  Chilicothe  thence  they  march'd, 
Triumphing  proudly  in  their  guarded  piize. 


176  BOOXE'S 

Montour,  the  Shaw'nese  King,  soon  saw  in  Boone   126 

The  warrior's  soul,  and,  with  a  prince-like  pride, 

Magnanimously  bade  his  tribe   forbear 

To  treat  him   rudely ;  and  a  kind  respect 

His  own  demeanor  towards  the  Hero  mark'd. 

Now  was  the  auspicious  time  for  Boone  to  essay   130 

Us  great  and  long-conceiv'd  design,    to  soothe 

The  vehemence  of  savage  ire ;  and  melt 

Beneath  Conciliation's  gentle  beams 

Its  prejudice-constructed  base  away. 

To  this  important  end  he  day  and  night  135 

His  utmost  powers  devoted.     First  he   sought 

A  farther  knowledge  of  the  Shaw'nese  tongue, 

Which  he  before  had  slightly  learn'd,  and  then 

His  purpose  with  unwearied  zeal-  pursued. 

Though  he  succeeded  to  attain  the  esteem,  14(* 

And  e'en  the  affection  of  the  ag'd  Montour, 

And  hundreds  of  the  Indian  hosts;  he  stiil 

Found  ineffectual,  all  his  efforts  to  appease 

. 
Their  hostile  spirit  tow  rd  the  Ma&s  of  whites. 

At  Spring's  return  they   took  him  to  Detroit,      145 
Together  with  a  portion  of  his   friends, 
His  fellow-prisoners  ;  and   to  HainiltMi 
The  British  Commandant,  presented  them, 
As  an  illustrious  trophy  of  the   skill 
Of  Inoian  stratagem.     Bonne's  lofty  air  150 

And  dignified  demeanor  drew  respect, 
Jr'i-om  cv'ry  eye  that  saw  him.     Hamilton, 


ADVENTURES.  ,  177 

Though  hostile  to  the  Hero's  country,  which 

Was  then  emerging  from  the  noxious    glooms 

Of  British  tyranny;  had  yet  a  heart  155 

That  kindly  beat  with  sympathetic  throb, 

When  he  the  gallant  captive   view'J.       The   tear 

Of  soft  commisseration  wet  his  cheek, 

While  Boone  unfolded  the  benevolent  views> 

That  thus  expos'd  him  to  Barbarian   pow'r.  160 

The  noble  Briton,  stung  with  keen  regret, 

Saw,  in  the  guile  of  h's  own  government, 

A  source  of  the  implacable  revenge 

And  prejudice,   which,  in  the   Indians'  breasts, 

Against  Columbian  whites  were  entertuin'd.  165 

He  knew  the  sleel-edg'd  Tomahawk  and  Knife, 

The  nitrous  grain,  and  cleathlul  gun  it  charg'd, 

By  British  hands  were  given  the  savage  hosts 

To  spill  the  blood  of  Freedom's  advocates  j 

And  with  fell  slaughter's  gory  corses  clog  170 

The  brilliant  wheels  of  REVOLUTION'S  CAR! 

His  soul,  at  this  reflection,  felt  the  pains 

Which  tear  the  tender  bosom  Lt^und  by  law 

To  aid  Oppression's  arm.     And  he   resolv'd, 

Far  as  his  province  would  permit,  to  assuage        175 

The  sufferings  of  the  Captives.     All  but  Boone 

Into  his  care  were  willingly  transfer'd  ; 

But  such  the  fondness  which  the  savages 

For  him  conceiv'd,  that  they  the  powers  withstood 

Of  warm  persuasion,  and  lar-je  sums  of  gold,        180 


178  BOONE'S 

Sooner  than  yield  so  lov'd,  so  rich  a  prize. 

Again  to  Chilicothe  they  return'd. 
Though  wearisome  and  long  their  march,  the  charms 
Of  spring  spread  wildly  round  their  blooming  way  ; 
And  the  rich  plains  o'er  which  they  pass'd,  adoru'd    185 
With  pleasant  streams,  conspir'd  to  cheer  his  soul 
And  banish  painful  thought.     Upon  his  brow 
No  discontent  was  seen,  nor  in  a  word 
Or  action,  during  all  their  tiresome  march. 
For  still  his  darling  purpose  was  to  win  190 

So  far  the  savage  confidence  and  faith, 
As  to  enable  him  to  appease  the  ire 
They  bore  the  infant  settlement.     Montour 
Receiv'd  him  with  fraternal  tenderness, 
And  the  \vhole  tribes  seem'd  more  like  friends  than  foes. 
His  cheerfulness,  vivacity  and   ease,  li 

Each  day  endear'd  him  to  them  more  and  more  ; 
Until  suspicion  in  their  bosoms  slept, 
And  left  him  free  fr_om  all  their  rude  restraint. 
In  farther  testimony  of  respect  ! 

And  kindness  to  him,  they,  as  they  were  wont, 
Upon  the  Stock  of  Shaw'nese  savages, 
With  rude  fantastic  rites,  engrafted  him. 
He,  by  a  chieftain,  was  adopted  son, 
And  with  the  warmth  of  consanguinity  205 

Was  welcom'd  by  his  new-made  relatives. 
His  friendly  assiduities  secur'd 
The  affection  for  him  .they  at  first  conceiv'd. 


ADVENTURES.  179 

Oft  with  the  tawny  Hunters  he  travers'd 
The  game-abounding  forests,  and  before  210 

His  rifle's  flame-discharging  caliber, 
As  oft,  the  browsing  Deer  and  Buffalo  fell. 
An  honorary  pledge  before  the    King, 
The  reeking  spoils  of  the  adventurous  chase 
He  oftentimes  presented.     Much  was   sooth'd          215 
By  his  amusive  converse  with  Montour, 
The  secret  sorrows  of  his  sensuous  soul. 
Upon  this  hoary    Sachem  eighty  suns 
Tneir  bleaching  beams  had  shed.     A  hundred  Wars 
With  their  yell-mingled  clang  had  jar'd  his  ea^    220 
The  scars  of  deep-torn  wounds  his  body   trench'd. 
In  bogs  of  gore  his  feet  had  oft  been  grum'd. 
For  many  a  gulphy  grave,  in  furious  fight, 
His  arm  had  furnish'd  food.     The  battleing  broils 
Of  the  barbarian  bands  had  oft  been   quell'd,  225 

By  intercession  of  his  soothing  aid ; 
For  he  not  less  the  important  destinies 
Of  council  rul'd,  than  those  of  clashing   war. 
A  philosophic  calmness  kept  the    scales 
Of  Contemplation  balanc'd  well,   within  230 

His  cool-reflecting  mind.     His  anger,  like 
The  great  Ohio,  ere  its  torrents  rag'd, 
Roar'd  long,  and  carried  on  its  wasteful  waves 
Dark  wrecks,  Destruction,  Terror,  Fear,  and  Death !  235 
With  Nature's  nervous  eloquence   endow'd, 
iblimely  thundering  mid  the  painted  hosts, 


> 


180  BOONE S 

He  often  chain'd  attention  to  his  tongue. 

He  had  a  solemn  gravity  of  gait, 

And  native  gracefulness  of  manners  join'd  ;  240 

With  a  melodious  suavity  of  voice, 

And  soft  inviting  aspect  that  inspir'd 

At  once,  the  mingled  feelings  of  respect 

And  dignified  familiarity. 

His  frame  was  muscular  and  very  tall,  245 

And  turn'd  with  all  the  symmetry  that  strength 

And  great  agility  require.     The   powers 

Of  age  his  palm-erect  position  braved, 

Without  the  slightest  warp.     The  storms  of  time, 

Although  they'd  ravag'd  from  his  lofty  head  250 

The  long  black  locks  of  youth,  and  torn    his  cheeks 

With  many  a  trench  ;  had  not  impaired  the   spring 

Of  vigorous  thought  that  energiz'd  his  soul, 

Nor  clim'd  the  steady  splendors  of  his  eye. 

While  flaming  on  the   ecliptic   roll'd  the  Sun,  255 
Much  he  delighted  underneath  the  shade 
Of  dark-green  poplars  to  repose  with  Boone  ; 
And  tell  traditionary  tales  of  war, 
Which  waslj'd  in  a^ts  past  with  waves  of  blood 
The  westeri.  wilds.     But  most  i>is  masculine  mind,  260 
In  melancholy  iu.  jes;y  eiate, 
Its  bold  emphatic  cloc;iici.rc  display'd, 
When  he  the  marvellous  traditions  told, 
Which  from  his  aged   Ancestors  he'd   learn'd, 
Descriptive  of  the  mighty  MAMMOTH  RACE;          365- 


ADVENTURES.  181 

Their  form,  their  fury,  ravages,   and  power, 
And  their  excision  from  the  carnag'd    West. 
With  Nature's  unaffected   energy, 
The   wonderous  History  thus  he  narrated. 

"  A  thousand  winters  past,  when  these  dark  woods  27* 
Were  newly  planted  by  the  great  red  Spirit ; 
When  -one  stupendous  forest  stretch'd  its  shades 
From  the  wide  waters  of  the  distant  West 
Beyond  the  great  Missouri's  cavern'd  source, 
To  where  the  oriental  billows  boil  275 

Beneath  the  burning  ball,  that  pours  each  morn 
His  blazing  brightness  over  their  broad  breasts ; 
When  nought  but  ravening  beasts  and  naked  men 
Through  the  rude  yell-resounding  forests  roamed  ;  I 
Before  the  pallid  Prowleis  of  the   East,  zeO 

Were  by  their  wicked  Hell-bred  Spirits  borne 
Upon  the  thundering  Whirlwind's  stormy  Wing, 
Across  the  intervening  deeps,  to  waste 
With  fire  and  steel  this  ample  paradise  ; 
There  then  existed  on  the  mighty  Hiils  285 

That  overlook  in  frowning  prominence 
The  western  sea,  a  race  of  monstrous  Beasts, 
Stupendous  as  the  lowering  precipice, 
Horrific  as  the  howling  fiend  of  night, 
Impetuous  as  the  huge  resistless  rocks  290 

That  rush  adown  the  Alleganean  steeps, 
Rapacious  as  the  gulphy  jaws  of  Death, 
And  as  the  ravenous  Hyena  cruel  ; — 

Q 


182 


BOONE  S 


Their  native  wilderness  was  soon  laid    waste. 
By  hunger  and  ferocity  impel'cl,  295 

Like  an  o'erwhelmhjg  tempest  o'er  these  plains 
Their  legions  spread.     Their  headlong  weight 
The  crashing  groves  uptore.     The  rivers  sunk, 
And  the  great  lakes,  when  they  their  thirst  allay'd. 
A  thousand  hills  their  dreadful  roarings  rock'd,     SCO 
And  from  the  mountains'  jutting   peaks  shook   loose 
Ther  hanging  fragments.     Awful  terrors  siez'd 
The  affrighted  animals.     The  red  men  quaked. 
The  invading  monsters,  at  a  single  meal, 
Whole  forest  herds  clevour'd.  The  yells  of  Death  305 
And  wild  distress  incessantly  were  heard. 
^rhole  Indian  villages  were  victimiz'd, 
Afld  blood  and  slaughter  stain'd  the  groaning  land. 
The  cries  and  plaints  of  expiration,  pain, 
And  fear,  the  starry  vault  transpierc'd  and  reach'd    31<1 
The  Almighty  Spirit's  flame-emblaz'd  abode. 
The  anger'd  God,  in  sheeted  lightnings   clothed, 
His  thunder-mouth'd  artillery  grasp'd,  and  pour'd 
Along  the  rocking  Heavens,  ten  thousand  peals 
Of  roaring  wrath — then  through  the  bursting  arch  3)5 
Descending,  drove  from  sea  to  sea  his  bolts 
Of  threat'ning  vengeance.     Still  the  daring  Beasts 
Thtir  devastations  spread.     Alighting  next 
Upon  the  Alleganean  Battlements, 
He  cast  around  his  lightning-mingled  frowns.         320 
The  trembling  mountain-summits  sunk  beneath 


ADVEXTURES.  183 

His  awful  presence.     Centre-shook,  the  Earth 

hi  agiuterl  undulations  roll'cl ; 

And  tumbled  from  their  tempest-blacken'd    beds, 

Tumultuous,  foaming,  wild  ;  the  surging  seas         325 

Their  highest  shores  o'erwhelm'd.  The  infuriate  Herds? 

As  still  more  terrible  the  thunders   burst. 

And  .flashing  blackness  roil'd,  still  fiercer  raged, 

And  deeper  planged  in  blood.     Thus  brav'd,  the  arm 

Of  the   great  Spirit,  hurled  the  slaughtering  bolts  330 

Of  blazing  ire  amid  the  murdering  droves  ; 

And  keen-prong'd  lightnings,  volleyed  thunder  globes, 

And  forest-wringing  whirl  vin  ;s  on  them   wreak'd 

Their  death-commission'd  wrath.     On  every   hand 

The  huge  Devourers  fell ;  or,  wounded,  drag'd      335 

O'er  crashing  trees  and  gory  carcases 

Their  mighty  mangled  limbs.     The  horrid  crush 

Of  breaking  bcoes,  the    Heaven-rending  roar 

Of  agony  and  rage,  the   sullen  groans 

'vjf  lingering  expiration  every  where,  340 

The  ensanguined  carnage-cover'd  regions  shook. 

With   glaring  eye-balls  bursting  from  their  heads, 

iAnd  streaming  blood;   whole  fury-foaming    herds 
Of  the  tremendous  monsters  thunder-torn, 
.And  gored  with  fiery  javelins,  headlong  rush'd      345 
<  )'er  the  resounding  rkigcs,  rock-rib'd,  rude, 
Of  shuddering  Allegany.     Thousands  blind, 
i  npjtuous,  mad,  down  Cumberland's  huge  steeps 
^Vccipuuteiy  tumbled — From  wild  heights, 


184 


BOONE  S 


In  crashing  tumult,  tearing  crags  and  trees, 

And  heaping  on  the  blood-whelm'd  plains  below, 

The  mingled  ruins  almost  mountain  high  ! 

All  fell  beneath  the  bolted  ire  save  ONK  : 

He,  than  the  rest  more  huge  and  fierce,  the  flame? 

And  vollied  vengeance  dauntlessly  defied  ;  355 

And   rushing  through  the  thickest  clouds  of  wrath, 

That  roli'd  their  lightning-driving  thunders  round, 

The  rocky  pinnacles  and  ragged  woods 

Of  the  blue-crested  Mountains,  raged  and  roar'd 

.And  yell'd  indignantly  !     The  gnarled  firs, 

Fierce-forked  flashes  rent.     The  towering  pines 

In  atoms  by  the  blazing  bolts  were  burst  ; 

But  still  the  unconquev'd  n. ouster  grimly  moved 

Amid  the  fiery  wlarlwinds  burning  blasts, 

Until  his  rage  to  furious  madness  grew  ; 

And  urged  him  from  the  sky-embosom'd  ste 

Whence  boldly  bounding  o'er  the  western   lakes, 

A  gloomier,  wilder  wilderness  .he  sought, 

Where  umnolcbted  now  his   c'rcad  domain    . 

In  solitary  majesty  he  holds." — 

With  melancholy  wonder  niix'd  with   awe, 
Refinement's  powers  the  hoary  Sachem  heard; 
For  Boone  in  turn,  descanted  on  the  events, 
Whose  splendid  eminence  and  useful  aids 
Adorn  and  dignify  the  social   sphere 
(Of  polish'd  man.     He  told  how  skilful  ART 
Had  subjugated  to  his  plastic   sway, 


370 


ADVENTURES. 


185 


The  mineral  empire.     How  magiufir,   domes, 

[si  grand  assemblage,  gorgeous  cities  form, 

"row  by  the  Compass  and  the  starry  chart,  380 

;)f  astronomic  science,  guided  ships 

Adventurous,    ride  through  storms  the  foaming  seas, 

And  with  the  .golden  chain  of  Commerce  bind 

The  numtrous  nations  of  the  mighty  globe  ; 

Uniting  in  the  kind   civilities  23£ 

Of  generous  intercourse  a  thousand  climes, 

Divided  by  the  desolate  expanse 

Of  interposing  oceans — How  the  mind , 

[ts  multifarious  thoughts  through  myriad  years,  < 

If  Time's  uncertain  reign  so  long  should  last,       39<J 

By  Printing's  aidance  can  perpetuate. 

How  Agriculture  from  the  furrow'd  land, 

.'ihundant  stores  of  corn  and  fruitage    draws, 

And  crowns  with  plenty,  luxury,  and   ease, 

Her  cheerful  votaries.     How   Philanthropy  3y$ 

And  social  Love,  in  sweet  profusion    pour 

Along  Refinement's  pleasure-blooming  Vales, 

Their  streams  of  richest,  life-ennobling  joy. 

Montour,  so  strong  his  energies  of  mind, 
Though  much  amazed  that  man  could  e'er  .such  might 
And  enterprise  attain;  full  well    perceived  401 

The  degradation  of  the  savage  state  ; 
And  mourn'd  the  rueful  desliny  that  drown'd 
In  blood  and  gloom,  the  INDIAN  INTSLIECT. 

By  Boone's  urbanity  and  mild  address,  405* 

2 


186 


BOOKE'S 


415 


The  enmity  the  white  hair'd  Chieftain  bore 

The  polish'd  whites,  was  partially  reduced  ; 

A'^.d  he  at  length  became  disposed  to  turn 

The  reeking  hatchet's  life-destroying  edge, 

From  the  unvanquish'd  Settlers.     But  alas  ! 

Before  his  embryo  purpose  could  have  birth, 

His  head  lay  cold  beneath  the  hand  of  Death ! 

For  by  an  apoplectic  blow  he   fell, 

And  closed  his  eyes  in  everlasting  sleep  ! 

Wild  was  the  savage  woe  that  wept  his  fall  ! 

Along  the  dismal  wilderness  was  pour'cl, 

The  melancholy  howl  of  rude  distress. 

In  all  the  varied  pomp  of  S/iaivanese  grief, 

His  mournful  obsequies  were    solemnized. 

la  all  the  insignia  of  his  rank  anay'd, 

The  breathless  Sachem's  corse  was  placed  upright ; 

And  round  it  drew  in  sorrow-sadden'd  groupes, 

The  tawny  NATION.     His  successor   rose, 

And  thus  apostrophized   the  painted  clay  : 

"  Lamented  Chieftain,  we  thy  children  mourn  .'  425 
For  thou,  who  wert  in  peace  our  cheering  sun  ! 
In  the  dark  battle   day  our  blazing   bolt 
Of  conquering  glory  !  thou  art  sunk  in  Night ! 
Those  lips  whence  streams  of  purest  counsel  flow'd, 
Now  motionless  and  pale,  no  more  shall    pour       430 
The  tides  of  eloquence.     Those  star-beam  eyes, 
That  glanced  pervasive  through  the  thickest  brakes, 
^Jor  hiding  fowl  uor  beast  left  undcscried, 


420 


ADVENTURES.  187 


*vre  cover'd  with  the  eternal  clouds  of  Death! 
Those  limbs  that  once  with  active  energy,  435 

-1'leet  as  the  fear-wing'd  elk  or   flying  deer, 
O'er  vale  and  mountain  bounded,  bending  well 
The  strongest  bow,  or  aiming  sure  the  tube 
With  thundering  Death  surcharged,  are  wither'd  now, 
,\nd  wasting  into  Dust.  Those  age-bleach'd  locks,  440 
Though  venerable  still  with  Time-shed  snows, 
Soon  with  the  furrowed  temples  which  they  shade, 
.Ljeneath  the  cold  dank  earth  in  darkness    closed, 
Shall  lie.     But  oh,  our  much  revered  Sire! 
Although  that  form  of  majesty  and    grace  445 

Must  soon  be  bedded  with  thy  Father's  bones, 
Thy  s/iirit  shall  forever  live  !   shall  live 
Forever  in  the  land  where  life  is  bliss  ; 
Where  tempest-mantled  Winter's  freezing  frown, 
And  flame-enveloped   Summer's  withering  blaze,   450 
Thy  spring's  eternal  bloom  shall  never  change; 
Where  flower-perfum'd  parterres  and  purple    hills 
In  various  fruitage  rich,  shall  ever  spread 
Their  game-abounding  bosoms  to  the  eye. 
Where  toil  no  more  the  nerves  shall  paralize,       455 
.Nor  anguish  bathe  in  bitter  tears  the  cheek  ; 
But  where  thy  disembodied  Ancestors 
S;iall  hail  thee  with  the  holy  shout  of  Love, 
And  thy  participation  in  their  joys 
Solicit.     Go  then,  Spirit  of  Montour !  46« 

Aad  on  that  mighty  mountain,  where  in    light 


188  BOOKE'S 

And  grandeur  clothed,  the  world's  great  Father  dwells ; 
Associate  with  the  blythe  society 
Of  kindred  bands  beatified  ;   go,  Sire  ! 
And  for  thy   robes  oi  perishable  clay,  465 

The  radiant  vestments  of  unending  youth 
Receive.     No   hatchets  there  with   human  blood 
Shall  reck.     But  the  red  Nations  all  shall  smoke 
In  that  fak  land  the  Pipe  of  Amity, 
And  in  the  plenty-furnish'd  tents  of  Peace,  47t> 

Together  banquet  pleasure  and  repose. 
We  too  shall  shortly  pass  the  Western   Wave 
And  thy  felicitous  abodes  enjoy ; 
Renewing  there  with  zest  more  exquisite, 
Suspended  happiness."     With   plaintive    voice         475 
Coluxo  thus  the  lifeless  King  address'd. 
To  the  great  Shawanese  cemetery   next 

The  uncoffin'd  corse  was  borne  and  there  inter'd  : 

. 
While  dolorous  dirges  o'er  the  dreary  tomb 

Were  wildly  sung.  Etch'd  on  a  smooth  broad  stone,  4CO 
A  hieroglj  phical  memorial    marked 
The  spot,  where  mouldering  into  kindred  earth, 
The  much  lamented  Chieftain's  body    slept 

All  chance  of  soothing  down  the  savage  ire, 
Was  buiied  with  the  heart  of  good    Moutour.        485 
Coluxo  such  aversion  bore  the  whites. 
And  so  inexorable,  unyielding,  stern, 
His  purpose  towards  them ;  that  the  blandest  art* 
And  ablest  arguments,  its  vengeful  course 


ADVENTURES.  189 

f^ould  not  avert,  nor  blunt  its  dreadful    edge.         490 

To  labor  in  Sciota  salines,  Boone 
W'as  taken  now.     His  intervals  from  work, 
Ostensibly  in  hunting  the   wild    game, 
Hut  really  in  exploring  the  rich  lands 
Were  actively  employ 'd.     A  country  here  495 

In  nature's  gayest  robes  adorn'd,  and  rich 
With  fertilizing  fatness  he  beheld, 
liut  cultivation's  glittering  ploughshare  yet, 
The  mossy  surface  of  its  mellow   soil 
Had  never  broke.     For  there  rude    SOLITUDE,        500 
In  forest  bowers,  her  savage  offspring  nursed; 
And  unmolested,  with  her  sullen  SIRE 
Ik-nighted  BARBARISM,  held  her  drear  domain:^ 
While  round  her  breezy  tempi. s,  wilo^ffower  wreaths 
And  green-leaf  chaplcts  dew-bespangled  hung.       505 
To  'introduce  within  a  land  so   fair, 
Luxuriant,  healthful,  picturesque  and   gay, 
The  social  graces  and  sublime  delights 
Oi  Civiiizement,  was  a  task  so  grand, 
Heroic  and  humane;  that  Boone  beheld  510 

K't  hindrance,  difficulty,  danger,  pain, 
Ncr  toil,  that  could  a  moment  cool  the  zeal 
A:  d  ardent  eagerness,  with  which  his  soul» 
,Th«  achievement  of  his  glorious  purpcs-i  sought. 
B;it  nathless  all  his  vengeance-soothing  skill  !         5lS 
S.ill  sly  SUSPICION'S  subtle  leer,  and  HATE'S 
scowl  exposed  at  times. 


190  BOONE'S 

The  secret  venom  of  the  savage-  soul  ; 

And  proved  its  prejudice  too  deeply  grown, 

To  extirpate  by  an  individual's  power.  520 

But  when  to  Chilicoihe  he  return'd ; 

Tne  gorgon  front  of  savage  vengeance  met 

JJnmask'd,  and  in  its  fearful  terrors  dark  ! 

The  Hero's  keen  indignant  eye.     For   there, 

The  S:iawdnese  Warriors,  smear'd  with  frightful  paint, 

And  arm'tl  in  dreadful  panoply  of  Death,  526 

Against  hi&  Fort,  precinct  to  march  appear'd. 

'Twas  Britain's  hostile  breath  that  blew  to  flame, 

Ti  e  Slumbering  sparks  of  Indian  enmity, 

And  kindled  their  distrust  of  Boone  anew. 

\VitI\Ttts  characteristic  cruelty, 

Her  parricidal  nand,  blood-dripping  held 

To  the  wild  natives'  dim  deluded   view, 

A  thousand   gaued  motives  to  excite 

Their  iage  against  Columbia's  patiiot   sons.  5;>5 

Fit  conduits  to  convey  the  subtle  streams 

Of  poisoning  ihflucnee-  to  the  savage  mind, 

In  her  Canadian  provinces  were  found. 

The  apostate  Girty  anu  his  ruffian  peers, 

Idoneous  subjects  al.so  fjrm'c!",  to  speed 

Her  black  flagitious  views.     Their  villain    sox 

Her  sanguinary  purpose  to  subserve, 

Their  icpu'ation,  peace,  and  virtue,  sold; 

And  with  Demoniac  zeal,  to  arms  inflamed 

The  tawny  host,     'Twere  visiona  y  now, 


191 


To  think  with  smooth  persuasion's  dulcet  tongue, 

And  the  soft-breathing  blandishments  of  art, 

To  stay  the  desolation-threatening  storm 

Of  direful  wrath,  that  brooded  darkly  round. 

How  'best  its  bolted  thunders  to  repel  550 

kVas  Boone's  concern,  and  wisdom's  dictate   then. 
Along  with  the  blood-hungering  war-ripe  foe, 
One  night  in  feign'd  co;  tent  the  Hero    pass'd. 
Bat  under  semblance  of  his  wonted   sport, 
With  shoulder'd  gun,  at  morn's  first  gleam,  the  groves, 
And  brakes,  and  wild-wood  labyrinths,  he    pierced. 
]  ,o  now  !  the  lordling  stag  in  antler'd  pomp, 
Unheeded  bounds  before  him  ;  for  impei'd 
By  all  the  valorous  ardor,  anxious  zeal, 
And  tender  power,  that  agitate  and  fire  569 

The  Hero's  heart,  when  ruffian  hands  prepare  ; 
To  plunge  in  RUIN'S  bloody  gulph,  his  ALL, 
His  friends,  his  children,  spouse,  and  patriot  hopes  ; 
Boone  swiftly  traverses  the  sombre  wastes, 
Until  he  at  the  distant  Fort   arrives.  565 

But  there  no  glowing  lap  of  wedded  love 
On  which  his  wearied  temples  to  repose, 
Nor  smiles  of  filial  tenderness  and  joy, 
With  which  the  glooms  of  care  to  dissipate, 
In  extacies  of  sweet  enjoyment  drown'd  S79 

His  warm'  anticipations;  for  his  spouse, 
Despairing  e'er  again  his  fond  embrace 
And  beaming  eye  to  meet ;  believing  Death 


192 


BOONE  S 


Had  in  his  life  the  savage  hatchet   plunged, 

Migrated  with  her  children  from   the   wild,         -    575 

Ai.d  sought  again  beneath  her  father's  roof 

In  Carolina's  civilized  retreats, 

Security  from  an  infuriate   fee, 

And  consolation  to  her  anguish'd    heart. 

Although  her  absence  gave  his  bosom  pain, 

As  'twas  a  disappointment  of  sweet  hopes, 

Her  safety  form'd  a  soothing  counterpoise, 

And  reconciled  him  to  the  poignant  want, 

Of  her  endearing  converse  and  fond  smiles. 

With  gladness  exquisite,  the  Garrison  585 

His  unexpected  presence  hail'd ;  but  soon 
The  impending  tempest's  fell  approach  they    learn  5 
And  feel  its  dark  penumbra  cast  a  gloom 
O'er  joy's  benignant  splendors.     Valor  still 
Their  soUls  innervecl :  and  in  a  fixed    resolve,        5£>* 
Their' Fortress  to  defend,  they  jointly  leagued. 
To  strengthen  and  prepare  it  to  withstand 
The  blazing  brunt,  both  clay  and  night  they   toil'd. 
The  exhilarating  news,  in  a  few  days, 
The  arrival  of  another  prisoner  brought ; 
That,  consequent  on  information  gain'd 
From  Spies,  the  savage  host  had  for  a   time 
Its  march  defer'd.     By  new  adventurers  join'd, 
Our  Hero's  force  the  hostile  tribes   alarm'd, 
And  into  serious  fermentation  threw  600 

Their  barbarous  councils ;  which  now  oft  convened 


ADVENTURES. 


199 


For  consultation,  how  to  extirminate 
The  rising  settlement,  and  bar  the  West 
Against  the  influx  of  humanizing   light. 

The  infernal  agents  of  the  British   realm  60S 

Stil  their  excitement  through  the  credulous  clans 
Industriously  diffused.     The  fiend  Duquesne, 
Of  the  embattled  army  took  command, 
And  practised  it  in  all  the  slaughtering  arts 
Of  European  War:  meanwhile  in    strength  610 

Our  Hero's  Fortress  grew.     Its  guardian    band, 
Though  small  in  number,  was  in  bravery  great. 
In  vigilant  suspense,  from  day  to  day, 
They  wait  the  expected  onset.     Lo  !  at  length, 
Before  their  walls  the  fury-featured  Host  615 

Arrive.     O'er  their  terrific  van,  wide  flap'd  ; 
Fit  symbol  of  satanic  savagery ! 
The  bloody  wing  of  Britain's  flesh-stain'd  flag  ! 
Upon  the  Fan,  no  battle-banner  flow'd  ; 
But  Boone's  inspiring  Seraph  viewless,  there          620 
His  soul-invigorating  fervors  breathed. 
With  the  hoarse  thunder  of  assumed  command, 
The  investing  Myrmidons  on  their  approach 
Bade  Boone  surrender  or  to  Death  submit  ! 
Two  days  were  given  the  Garrison  in  which,         625 
From  the  alternative  a  choice  to  make. 
Although  'twas  but  a  handful  to  a  host, 
And  terrible  the  impending  temprst;   yet 

The  bold-beleaguer'd  bund,  with  daring  souls, 

R 


194  BOONE'S 

And  undivided  voice,  resolved  to  breast  630 

That  tempest's  roughest  shock.     The  allotted  time 

For  a  response  was  near  at  hand.     Like   Beasts 

Carnivorous,  hungry,  fierce,  that  grimly  watch 

With  keen  unwinking  eye  the  asylum,  where 

The  harmless  objects  of  their  greedy  rage  635 

From  Death  retreat ;  like  them,  the  tawny   foe 

The  invested  fortress  eyed ;  until  brave  Boone 

One  of  its  Bastions  rose,  and  to  Duquesne 

Declared  their  resolution,    to  expend 

In  its  defence,  their  latest  throbs  of  life.  640 

In  his  ferocious  visage,  hellish  hopes 

Were  seen  expiring;  while  he  heard   announced 

The  valorous  Band's  heroical  resolve  : 

For  he  had  thought  without  a  risk,  his  rage 

For  conquest,  cruelty  and  blood,  to  glut.  645 

Although  successless  in  the  attempt  to   awe 
The  gallant  Garrison  to  yield ;  he  hoped 
By  stratagem  their  strength  to  break, 
And  his  infernal  purpose  to  achieve. 
2<~nr  this  ;  with  them  he  now  proposed  to  treat, 
And  proffered  terms  that  prudence  could  not  spurn. 

Boone  sixty  paces  from  the  fortress  gates, 
With  eight  more  men  the  adverse  party  met, 
As  they  required.     Distrust  of  their  intent, 
Our  Hero's  breast  disturb'd.     But  still  his  soul     65  5 
To  fear  superior  rose ;  and  energized 
And  animated  with  the  power  to  afford 


ADVENTURES.  9 

Another  proof  of  peaceable  design 

Toward  the  suspicious  foe,  resolved  to  test 

The  integrity  of  their  intention  thus.  660 

Terms  of  capitulation  were  arranged, 
And  the  Contractors  signatures  affixed  ; 
When  Boone  and  his  co-agents  were  inform'd, 
That  'twas  a  usage  'mong  the  Indian  tribes 
In  treaty-forming,  their  sincerity  665 

.and  cordial  friendliness  to  testify  ; 
By  two  of  their  own  Chieftains  joining  hands 
With  each  contractor  on  the  white  men's  side. 
To  this,  Boone  and  his  party  gave  assent  ; 
And  to  every  man  of  the  deputed  band,  T70 

Forthwith  a  brace  of  the  red  ruffians  march'd ; 
And  seized  with  PERFIDY'S  flagitious  grasp, 
And  black   Malignity's  ferocious  grin, 
Instead  of  kindling  FRIENDSHIP'S  placid  air, 
And  mild  Pacification's   bland  embrace,  675 

Tne  guileless  Ministers  of  glorious  Peace ! 
But  from  the  struggling  gripe,  with  vigorous  tug 
They  tore  away;   and  through  the  treacherous  throng, 
Amidst  a  bursting  storm  of  sulphurous  flame 
And  vollied  lead,  resistless  rush'd,   unslain  I  680 

And  all  save  one,  unwounded,  safely  reach'd 
The  sheltering  fort ! 

The  war-yell,  shrill  and  fierce, 
Tiien  broke  along  the  oscillating  air. 
But  soon  in  a  disploding  tempest  drown'd,  185 

Gave  place  to  thunders  belch'd  from  tubes  of  death, 


196  BOONE'S  ADVENTURES. 

Against  the  well-constructed  fortress-walls. 

A  counter-storm  the  invested  Heroes  pour'd, 

And  drew  at  every  Jlre  their  foemen's  blood. 

Vain  was  the  hope  on  either  side,  to  find  690 

In  one  or  ttvo  diurnal  rounds,  such    change 

Of  circumstance,  as  each  so  hoping  wish'd. 

The  bullet-battering  brunt,  from  dawning  morn 

Till  dusky  eve,  and  through  the  dismal   night, 

Upon  the  fort  still  ineffective    beat.  695 

-But  still  the  expectation  of  a  pause 

Was  disappointed ;  for  the  assailing  fiends 

More  furious  grew,  and  fiercer  drove  the   storm, 

As  its  successless  blasts  in  number  grew. 

E'en  at  the  midnight  hour,  the  welkin   blazed,       700 

And  rage-born  yells  the  haggard  dreams  disturb'd 

Of  those  of  the  besieged,  who  sought  in  sleep 

Refreshment's  cheering  aid.     NINE  DAYS  AND  NIGHTS 

Around  the  well-protected  Garrison, 

The  leaden  hail-storm  pour'd  its  pelting  showers  ;  70S 

While  unsubdued,  and  suffering  little  loss, 

Two  only  of  its  bold  defenders  slain  ! 

It  proudly  braved  each  rudely  battering  shock  ; 

And  with  the  lightning  of  its  vengeance  smote 

The  savage  ranks,  until  the  shalter'd  force  71O 

Defalcated  with  Death,  with  gore   defiled, 

With  hunger  weaken'd,  and    with    wounds  impair'dj 

The  siege  at  length  relinquish'd  ;  and  return'd 

Reluctantly,  with  slow  and  crippled    march, 

Depressed,  and  grim,  to  their  rude  wig-warn  Homes. 


THE 


ADVENTURES 


OF 


DANIEL  BOONE, 


BOOK  VII. 


ARGUMENT. 

HOONE  on  his  ivuy  to  Carolina  discovers  Vuloskc'a 
Charles.  His  captivity  and  escape  narrated.  \  to  54. 
They  arrive  at  Vulo&ko's  ;  the  intcrviriu  deairibed.  55 
10  112.  Vulosko  de'ails  to  Bowie  the  trial  and  execution 
of  all  the  surviving-  Alhgany  Robbers,  save  Vonploor. 
113  to  25.  Boone  resu?nes  his  journey,  and  meets  his 
family.  251  to  290.  With  them  he  returns  to  Kentucky  ,• 
and  finds  the  Settlers  suffering  from  the  Indian  and  Eri- 
tis:  foes.  291  to  323.  Death  of  L^oone's  Brother — Boone 
chased  by  Blood-hounds.  335  to  377.  Bryant's  Fortrett 
attacked  ;  the  Assailants  repulsed.  394  to  421.  They 
are  pursued  :  Battle  at  the  Blue  .Licks.  Retreat  of  the 
Kentuckians  to  Bryant's  Fort.  422  £o  701.  There  joined 
by  Logan's  forces,  they  return  to  the  field  of  Battle  in. 
search  of  the  Foe,  mid  to  bury  the  dead.  The 
mournful  scene  described.  701  to  743.  Boone  returns  to 
his  family  with  the  sad  account  of  the  Defeat,  and  hut 
ton  Israel's  Death.  743  to  760.  Boone,  Clarke,  and 
J.,ogan)iouf,e  their  brethren  to  arms,  and  march  against 
the  Savages,  drive  them  from  their  encampments,  burn 
thtir  toivns,  destroy  their  corn,  and  force  them  to  sue  for 
peace.  761  Jo  791.  Happier  prospects  daivn.  Panegy 
rical  address  to  Boone.  Picture  of  the  Western  Repub 
lic.  792  to  821.  JLuhgium  on  the  Occidental  State*. 
Jl  tribute  of  praise  to  their  gallant  Patriot*.  8*3  to  &92. 
The  Potm  concludes  ivith  an  address  to  the  Females  of 
the  West,  and  the  Author's  fervent  detifesfor  the  pr**~ 
fierity  of  the  Western  States. 


THE 

ADVENTURES 


DANIEL   BOONE. 


BOOK  VII. 


DRAWN  by  Affection's  heart-connecting  ties, 

Boone  breaks  again  the  monster-mantling  glooms, 

And  hies  alone  towards  the  blue  crested    HILLS. 

While  traversing  the  intervening  vales 

In  reveries  immersed;  one  sultry    day,  5 

Before  him,  near  a  gliding  Brook,  he  saw 

Reclined  asleep  on  flower-impurpled    moss, 

A   manly-featured  Youth,  in  fur-skins  clothed 

With  gun  beside  him.     Boone  amazed,   awhile, 

Inspected  close  with  curious   ken,  his    garb  10 

And  aspect  strange.     But  nought  descried  that  could 

His  origin  unfold,  or  that  bcspake 

Him  civilized,  the  fairness  of  his  face 

Except  :  then  dauntlessly  advancing,  call'd 

In  gentle  tone.     Upstarting  wild,  the  youth  J « 


200  BOONE'S 


His  gun  close-grasp'd,  and  sternly  gazed  on  Boone  ; 

Whose  air  and  words  convinced  him  soon,  that  harm 

He  need  not  fear.     Each  briefly  told  his   views. 

But  scant  and  lame  the  language  of  the  Lad 

Came  staggering  from  his  tongue;  for  several  years  20 

Had  flown,  since  he  his  native  speech  adciress'd, 

To  any  human  ear  beside  his    own, 

For  lo !  he  is  Vulosko's  noble  Charles ! — 

Not,  as  his  reverend  Father  had  supposed 

Had  he  been  slain ;  but  wounded  by  the   Fiends,     25 

The  fell  Choctaws,  and  borne  to  their  rude  homes  j 

Where  six  slow-lingering  years  in  savage   thrall, 

As  son  to  an  old  Sachem  he  had  lived. 

Meanwhile  he  cherish'd  in  his  manly  heart 

A  hope,  once  more,  when  ripening  Time  gave  strength 

And  firmness  to  his  nerves,  and  to  his  mind  SI 

Malurer  enterprise,  to  see  his  Sire, 

His  Sister,  and  clear  scenes  of  juvenile  joy. 

Thus  saved  from  sinking  in  the  blood-dark  waves 

Of  horrible  despair,  he  wisely  shaped  35 

His  manners  to  accord  with  savage  life; 

And  with  the  murderous  Choctaws  rcmaii/d, 

Enjoying  all  that  he  had  ground  to  hope  ; 

Until  imbolden'd  by  increasing   powers, 

He  venturously  resolved  to  pass  the  pale 

Of  barbarous  thraldom,  and  essay  to  find 

Those  distant  scenes  for  which  so  long  he'd  sigh'd. 

But  when  amid  the  pathless  glooms  he  plunged, 


„  ADVENTURES.  201 

Too  dim  was  Memory's  chart  to  point  his  way; 
For  when  its  lines  were  pencil'd,  phrenzied  Pain    45 
Their  sickly  tints   confused  and  half  expunged. 
He  therefore  without  any  guiding   clue, 
liewildered,  wander'd  through  the  mazy   waste 
Some  weeks  ;  until  he  chanced  to   reach  the  Brook 
Whose  blooming  borders  woo'd  him  to  repose         50 
Upon  their  lovely  lap  ;  where  gently    lull'd 
By  murmurs  mild,  in  slumbers   sweet  he  lay 
When  Boone  arrived. 

Together  now  they  wend 

On  their  less  lonely  way.     They  pass  the    plains,    55 
The  mountains  scale  ;  and  see  !  Vulosko's  groves, 
Wave  gratulant  before  the  approaching  guests  ! 
And  his  rejoicing   mansion  now  receives 
"The  much-loved  Friend  and  welcome  Stranger- Youth. 
Boone's  soul  with  fluttering  extacy  was  full  !  60 

'Twas  now  to  him,  a  moment  big  with  bliss 
A  ad  exquisite  solicitude  ! — Each  glance 
Melcena  and  Vulosko  cast  on  Charles, 
He  vigilantly  watch'd — Inquiry  strange, 
And  curious  eagerness  were  in  their  looks—  65 

Boone  bade  them  recognize  their  youthful  guest. 
A  breathless  silence  follow'd — tears  in    streams 
Roll'd  down  his  callow  cheeks — emotions  strong 
And  varied  mark'd  their  faces  and  convulsed 
Their  breasts,  while  they  his  agitation  view'd  :         70 
For  join'd  with  that,  they  in  his  mien  descried 


202  BOONE'S  % 

A  strange  mysterious  something,  which    o'erwhelnvd 

With  melancholy  tenderness  their  souls  ; 

And  brought  to  mind  the  dear-remember'd  Charles. 

While  thus  in  deep  solicitous   suspense  75 

They  stood;   Boone  from  the   Battery  of  Bliss 

Gave  their  enfeebled  nerves  the  enrapturing  SHOCK  ! 

Each  seizing  Charles'  hand,  beside  him  sunk  ; 

And  in  the  mingled  transports  of  sweet  joy 

And  warm  felicitous  Affection,  swoon'd  !  80 

'Twas  now  a  time  of  awful  extacy  ! 

From   every  eye,  a  general  gush  of  joy 

Profusely  flow'd — the  Servants  press'd  their  hands, 

And  raised  to  Heaven  their  eyes  in  Gratitude. 

Some  moments  had  elapsed,  ere  Melville's  strength  85 

Could  aid  him  to  support  his  weeping  wife; 

And  Boone  so  paralized  with  rapture  was, 

That  as  he  raised  Vulosko's  silver'd  head, 

And  thence  the  trickling  drops  of  transport  wiped, 

He  trembled  as  if  shook  by  storms  of  Age  !          •  90 

The  flood  of  ravishment  at  length  assuaged, 

Through  the  pellucid  moisture  of  their  eyes, 

Serenely  shone  the  lustre  of  delight; 

While  gentler  tumults  softly  swell'd  their  breasts. 

So  when  the  mighty  Ocean-storm    subsides, 

Mild  splendor  through  the  humid  azure  beams  ; 

And  though  the  surgy  heaving  of  the  tide 

Has  ceased,  the  bosom  of  the  settling    Deep 

Still  undulates  with  lightly  lingeiing  power 


ADVENTURES  203 

Which  the  tumultuous  tempest  leaves  behind.       100 

The  anticipation  of  Beatitude, 
In  which,  to  be  enjoy'd  beyond  the  grave, 
A  ulosko's  pious  spirit  had   indulged, 
Ssem'd  merging  now  in  the  effulgent   dawn 
Of  actual  bliss,  of  sweet  Reality  !  lOli 

And  though  his  tedious  Pilgrimage  through   life 
O'er  thorny,  dank  and  dismal  solitudes 
And  rugged,  rough  and  tottering  steeps  had  been, 
"Until  its  hastening  close  was  near  at  hand  ; 
It  then  a  fragrant  flowery  slope  became,  110 

With  streams  of  transport  bounteously  enrich'd, 
And  with  Affection's  cloudless  sunshine  crown'd. 

In  converse  such  as  the  occasion  claim'd, 
The  lightsome  moments  glided  smoothly  by. 
Vulosko  after  Charles'  narrative  115 

Was  copiously  detail'd,  at  Boone's  request, 
The  doom  of  the  Banditti-Miscreants  told  ; 
And  brief  but  eloquent  Description  gave 
Of  the  judicial  ordeal  which  they  pass'd. 
Whose  outlines  here  the  Muse  in  homely  tint       120 
Will  sketch.     "  Vonploor's  recovery  fix'd  the  time, 
When  Justice  was  to  lift  the  awful  Scales 
Of  life  and  death,  and  ascertain  their  fate. 
Report  had  rumor'd  far  and  wide  the  day 
Of  solemn  scrutiny  ;  and  when  it  came,  125 

To  witness  the  important  scene,  to  Court 
The  country  flock'd.     Though  ample  was  the  Dome, 


204  BOONE'S 

It  soon  was  crouded  by  the  anxious  throng. 

The  Culprits  through  the  staring  multitude, 

Trembling  to  the  momentous  bar  were  led.  ISO 

Upon  his  magisterial  seat,  august, 

Serenely  stern,  the  venerable  Judge 

In  ermin'd  purple  robed,  deep-musing  sat. 

The  law-learn'd  Counsel  their  enclosure  fill'd, 

Anu  with  forensic  tomes  their  Book-bench  piled.    135 

Proemial  ceremonies  having  closed ; 

Through  deep  Interrogation's  flexuous  maze, 

The  Witnesses  were  artfully  pursued, 

Until  its  various  windings  they  evolved. 

Then  rose  with  solemn  grace  and  mien  demure,   140 

The  learned  Defender  of  infracted  Law ; 

And  thundering  in  his  injured  Patron's    cause, 

Its  wrongs  in  strong  perspicuous  terms  announced ; 

The  Culprits  through  their  midnight  ranges  traced, 

Their  violence  burglarious,  bloody,  fell,  145 

Inhuman,  dire  !  in  vivid  portrait  drew ; 

Depictured  scenes  of  agony  and  woe, 

Of  ruin,  wretchedness  and  penury, 

Incurable  distraction  and  despair ; 

The  effects  of  their  flagitious  ravages  150 

And  ruthless  murders.     Loud  and  forcibly, 

The  penalties  of  anger'd  Justice  peal'cl, 

From  his  impassion'd  tongue.     In  lucid  phrase, 

The  sanctity  uf  legal   institutes 

He  skilfully  expounded;  shewing  hovr  155 


ADVENTURES.  205 

IMPUNITY  extended   to  high   Crimes, 

Ctnboldens  Vice  ;  sheds  on  the  guilt-gloom'd  soul, 

\  gleam  of  hardening  hope  ;  the  turpitude 

\iicl  civil  harmfuiness  of  villainy, 

fn  the  Offender's  view  diminishes;  160 

Corrodes  with  RAPINE'S  rust  the  golden  bands. 

That  bind  in  one  harmonious  Brotherhood, 

The  family  of  man,  until  they  burst, 

And  into  wretched   Dissolution  fall, 

The  peaceful  systems  of  the  social  world;  16» 

And  ANARCHY,  ferocious  VIOLENCE, 

AMBITION,  SLAUGHTKR,  CRUELTY  and  THEFT, 

Amid  their  blood-o'erfloated  ruins  roam. 

To  him   succeeded  the  learn'd   Advocates 
Of  the  arraign'd.     Much  seeming  sympathy  170 

W.as  melting  in  their  manner,  eyes  and  mien  ; 
While  in  a  tone  as  summer's  evening  breeze 
Or  Spring's  love-modulated  sonnets  soft, 
And  tender  as  kind  Pity's  plaining  sigh, 
Pathetic  strains  of  eloquence  they  pour'd.  175 

But  'twas  a  rill  essaying  to  arrest 
A  headlong  torrent ;   'twas  an  Infant's  plaint 
Struggling  a  Nation's  thunders  to  confound. 
Though   skill'd  in  all  the   subtleties  and  wiles 
Of  argument,  though  practiced  in  the  art  180 

•  Of  weaving  Sophistry's  thin  gossamer 
Into  Truth-concealing  mantles;  now  their  skill 
Was  foil'd ;   and  through   tl.e  unsubstantial  veil 
it  cast,  the  blaze  of  Justice  shone. 


2'J6  BOONE'S 

Debate  of  counsel  ended,  she  pronounced  IBS 

Through  the  impanneled  Guardians  of  her  rights. 

Her  clear  conviction  of  the  Culprits'  guilt  ; 

And  by  the  solemn  organ  of  her  will 

Their   condemnation  spake  ! — In  breathless  awe, 

The  1  stoning  croud  the  impressive  sentence   heard: 

While  Guilt  aghast,  his  bloody  picture  view'd  ;     191 

And  bowed  in  homage  to  the  spotless    form 

Of  Probity,  portrayed  in  coloring  strong, 

By  the  Denunciator  of  his  doom. 

In  preparation  for  a  state   untried,  195 

The  abbreviated  remnant  of  their    lives, 
The  mercy-pleading  Malefactors  pass'd. 
Soon  came  the  awful  day,  which  was  to    close 
Their  mortal  scene.     Around  the  gallows,  throng'd 
Fast-gathering  thousands,  from  each  peopled  tract  200 
Of  the  encircling  country.     Dread  indeed, 
And  terrible  the  exhibition  was  1 
Corporeally  energic  men,  in  Life's 
Meridian,  darkly  shrouded  in  the  glooms 
Of  direst  Guilt,  from  their  stained  orbits  torn,       205 
And  hurl'd  into  Eternity's  deep  gulphs, 
To  meet  the  judgment  of  a  God  incensed, 
Was  a  phenomenon  most  terrible ! 
A  spectacle,  o'crwhelming  to  the  mind 
Unindurated  by  the  hardening  force  213 

Of  crime-familiarizing  Vice.     Ere  on 
The  shoreless  waves  their  shrieking  ghosts  were  cast, 
To  the  compassion-softened  multitude, 


ADVENTURES.  207 

An  awful  admonition  they  acldress'd. 

They  warned  them,  by  the  anguish  of  Remorse ;  215 

Ly  all  the  tortures  of  a  Conscience  torn 

With  fangs  of  ceaseless    Agony  ;   by  all 

The  horrors  of  an  everlasting  Hell  ; 

]fy  the  heart-piercing  stings  of  Infamy, 

And  poisoned  tooth  of  dolorous  Despair  ;  220 

!'.}•  all  their  hopes  of  Happiness  on  earth. 

And  sweet  Beatitude  beyond  the  tomb ; 

To  eschew  the  dangerous  Vortices  of  Guilt; 

To  fly  the  guzzling  gurge  of  Drunkenness  ; 

To  shun  the  treacherous  sloughs  of  Indolence  ;     225 

To  practice  Virtue,  Honesty  and  Truth  ; 

And  live,  instead  of  Outcasts  like   themselves, 

Supporters  of  harmonious   Polity, 

The  zealous  friends  of  Piety  and  Law; 

That  they,  when  called  from  this  iad  sphere  of  Time, 

Might  to  an  honorable  grave  descend  :  231 

Where  Scorn  should  never  cast  his  withering  scowl, 

To  blight  the  turf-adorning  grass  and  flowers 

That  o'er  their  much-lamented  ashes  wave ; 

But  tender-^yecl   Affection  shed  her  dews,  235 

And  melancholy  Friendship  love  to  mourn. 

This  parting  counsel  given,  the  dreadful   cord 
Retributive  of  angered  Justice,   swung 
The   Malefactors  from  this  blood-stained  Ball, 
Into  the  wide-stretch'd  arms  of  Waiting  Death.     240 

When  to  Contrition's  sway  their  hearts  succumb'u  ; 
The  Sufferers  of  their  Midnight  Crimes  they  told, 


208  BOONE'S 

Far  as  their  knowledge  Mould  permit ;  to  whom, 

And  others  who  advanced  attested  claims, 

The  rescued  s/ioil/*  were  speedily   restored."  245 

This  theme  dismiss'd,  in  various  converse  pass'd 
The  cheerful  Eve ;  until  its  far   advance 
Admonished  Boone,  his  travelled  limbs  to  rest. 
At  morn's  return,  he  bade  his  friends  farewell ; 
And  his  wild  solitary  route    resumed.  25(9 

Departed  raptures  of  Domestic  Love, 
Now  froln  the  Mirror  of  his  Memory  shone 
In  mellow  lustre  through  his  melting   breast, 
And  waked  redoubled  ardor,  to  renew 
Their  long-suspended  joys.     His  soul  was  winged  255 
With  fluttering  fervor,  and  his  bounding  limbs 
Seemed  buoyant  o'er  the  rugged  wild  to  bear. 

Once  more  he  emerges  irom  the  desert  glooms, 
And  treads  on  Carolina's  cultured  Vales. 
His  darling  Wife's  paternal  home  drew  nigh.         260 
High  in  the  spangled  concnve  hung  the  Moon. 
The  midnight  dews  slow-drizzling,  steeped- the  plains. 
Along  the   river-course,  the  cun'ly    mists 
In  winding  volumes  rose.   The  Night- Birds'  screams, 
Responsive  issued  from  the  weedy    marsh.  265 

The  heavy  tinklings  of  remembered  bells, 
Struck  slowly  on  the  shadowy  ear  of  Night. 
No  taper  glimmered  from  the  neighboring  farms. 
The  Hero  pass'd  his  former  home.     To  him, 
All  seemed  a  sweetly  melancholy    dream  !  270 

The  solemn  Ouk,  which  oft  to  him  and  friends 


ADVENTURES. 


ill  summer-tide  had  lent  its  grateful  shade, 

Seemed  an  acquaintance  which  he  dare  not  pass 

Unnoticed,     One  sad  moment  at  the   Gate, 

He  paused.     New   tenants  now  the  mansion  held.  275 

All  dark  and  silent,  its  old  Master's  loss 

It  seemed  to  mourn.     He  sighing  drop'd  a   tear^ 

And  then  sped  on.     The  scenes  of  many  a   year 

Rjse  in  review,  before  his  musing  mind. 

lie  reached  the  lane  which  led  to  his  loved  Spouse 

And  darling  Children.     Agitation  sh'ook  281 

His  joyous  breast — the  ancient  stile  is  passed — 

The  yard  is  cross'd — the   silent  door  he  raps — 

The  snow-lock'd  Sire  demands,  "  what  Guest  is  there  ?r* 

M  Your  hapless  Daughter's  long-lost  Husband  Boone  1" 

The  soul-transporting  voice  her  chamber  reached,  286 

And  shouts  of  extacy  proclaimed  her  joy— 

A  rapturous  consternation  through  the  house 

Prevailed.     For  he  had  come    is  from  thj  grave  ! 

All  having  long  believed  r.nd  mourned  Mm  dead.     290 

Again  the  endearments  of  comaibiul    Irw, 
And  filial  fondness,  in  their  tendon  st  forms, 
His  bosom   thrill.     Bui  few  the  days  of  rest 
And  ease  his  enterpiising  zeal  allowed; 
F1  i*  soou  t;»e  tiresome  Wilderness  againj  295 

H-  with  his  noble  f.imiiy  traversed    !>i\ck. 
1:1  :   i'mnd  the  Settlers  suffering   much   distress  : 
With  the  fierce  foe  harti   had  th..-y  to  unitcud  ; 
M  ,ny   in  g'-oaiiing  a^i.-y  Iiad   v.iitiuui 
Beucath  his  horrid  scalp-dissevering  KbiiVj  SCO 


BOOLE'S 


Or  perished  in  the  ruthless  faggot-flames. 
E'en  fenceless   Beauty,  unoffending  Babes. 
And  feeble  age  by  his  rude  hands  had  bled, 
Had  suffered  all  that  Fury  could    inflict. 
Nor  was  it  the  red  ravagers  alone, 
Whose  rage  and  cruelty  they  had  to  feel  ; 
For  still  infuriated   England  led 
The  bloody  hosts,  their  hostile   hr-arts  inflamed, 
And  in  *.'•  eii1  ranks  her  merciless  minions  mixed. 
Behold  !  where   British   Bird,  at  Licking-Forks, 
'Gai:  st  Martin's  Garrison  and  Riddle's    pours 
His  Cannon's  slaughtering  thunder,  and  compels 
The   unwary  and  defenceless  Habitants, 
To  his  o'erpowering  demon  force  to   yield. 
See!  there,  the- tyger-hearted  ruffians   load, 
With  galling  luggage,  the  imbecile  Fair  ; 
And  urge  them,  heedless  of  their  tender  plaints, 
Along  tl  e  wearisome  and  dismal  Wastes  ; 
'Till  faint  and  sinking  underneath  their  toil, 
The  bloody  hatchet  frees  them  from  their  woe. 
But  Boonc-'s  invigorating  presence  braced 
The   S'K  <  \\s  of  the  bleeding  settlement  ; 
And  banished  thence  the  accumulating  glooms. 
So  the  enlivening  Sun,  when  Nature  droops 
Relaxed,  long  shrouded  in  ungenial  clouds, 
At  length,  fioin  his  remote  retirement  breaks; 
Enkindles  in  her  veins  fresh  energy  ; 
Her  eye  with  sparkling  lustre  i  eillun;es  ; 
And  fioii    her  face  the  gathered  dark;. ess   drives. 


305 


Sli 


ADVENTURES.  211 


Bat  while  inspiriting  his  harassed   friends,  330. 

A:.d  with  the  wonted  prowess  of  his  arm 

Defending  Females,  Infancy  aiid  Age; 

Our  Hero  in  his  heart  a  wound  received, 

Ti.at  even  pierced  his  manly  Fortitude. 

A    Brother,  whom  most  ardently  he  loved,  335 

Now  to  the  murderous  foe  a  victim  fell. 

As  they  together  through  the  forest   hied, 

EL  turning  home  from  Licking  River  plains, 

The  ambush'd  Ruffians  fired, the  deatluul  charge, 

And  in  his  gore  the  gallant  Woodsman   laid.          340 

Before  his  Angel-Guardian's  viewless    shield, 

The  fleet  Survivor  flew  ;   while   bursting  fierce 

l'iom  their  concealment,  rapidly  pursued 

Tne  yelling  fiends.     Their  hellish  chase  to  aid, 

[loosed  ; 

Their  hoarse-lung'd  Blood-Hounds  on  his   track   they 
Swift  on,  the  carnage-nurtured  monsters  strained ;  346 
A:id  the  vast  Desert  with  their  clamors  roared. 
In  vain,  by  mazy  doublings  through  the   Brakes, 
And  by  accelerated  speed,  he    strove, 
The  slaughter-hungering  pack's  pursuit  to  foil.      350 
.Jntent,  and  sure  us   Death,  through   every  turn 
Of  the  deep-tangled  labyrinths,  his  steps 
They   swiftly  trace.     Still  close  and  closer  drew 
The  dreadful  cry.     The  savage  whoop  behind, 
Ascending  wild  at  once  from  various    points,  355 

Baspake  it  dangerous  longer  to  remain 
Within  the  thickets'  bounds;  and  ioith  lie   burst 


212  BOONE'S 

Into  the  forest's  less  entangleing   wood. 

Soon  on  his  view,  the  raging  Blood-Hounds  broke. 

At  his  aimed  Rifle's  peal,  the  foremost   fell.  35 

The  residue  sweep  on — again  he    flics, 

And  flying  charges  the  death-pouring  tube  : 

Then  wheeling,  stiffens  one  more  of  the  pacl 

His  flight  resumed,  a  second  time  he  essays 

His  gun  to  charge  :  when,  lo !   close  at  his  heels,    36:1 

Vociferous,  foaming,  panting,  glaie-eyed,  grim, 

The  fierce  Survivors  press'd  ;  with  winding  sweep, 

And  forceful,  with  his  gun,  as  round  he    turned, 

Boone  fell'd  two  of  them  lifeless  to  the    ground, 

And  backward  frightened  the  remaining  three;      SfC 

Which  soon  most  furiously  the  attack  renewed, 

But  were  With  crippled  limbs  again  repulsed  j 

Nor  dared  they  to  the  onset  to  return : 

But  vanquished,  lame  and  sullen  skulk'd  away. 

The  screaming  Savages  are  now  in  view,  3T5 

But  Boone  at  distance  almost  disappears, 

And  now  has  reached  a  sheltering  brake  secure. 

Some  respite  from  the  red  ferocious  foe, 
And  his  more  vile  and  criminal  ally, 
The  coming  Winter  to   the  Settlers  brought. 
Though  oft  by  petty  molestations  niar'd, 
In  strength  the  young  establishment  still  grew  ; 
At  sight  of  which,  to  tenfold  vengeance  stung, 
The  venal  Myrmidons  of  tyrant  power, 
Quick  through  their  tawny  coadjutors'  breasts,       385 
Their  murder-rousing  virulence  infused. 
At  length,  in  dread  confederation  linked) 


ADVENTURES.  213 

The  sanguinary  clans  of  Cherokees, 

V/'yandots,  Shawanese,  Delawarcs,  Tawas, 

A:id  other  savage  nations,  hot  for  blood,  390 

On  Chiiicothe's  plains  their  war-fiends  poured  ; 

Where  round  Britannia's  gore-stained  banner,    they 

With  her  Canadian  Mercenaries  leagued, 

Ey  the  black-hearted  villain  Girty  led, 

'Gainst  Bryant's  Fortress    the  grim  squadrons  move. 

As  gathers  silently  the  midnight  storm  396 

Dark-rolling-,  round  some    sleep-enveloped  dome 

Unconscious  of  the  impending  violence; 

Until  its  bursting  thunder-peals,  its  Winds' 

Hash  roar,  its  voliied  showers  of  battering  hail,     400 

And  flashes  fierce  of  flames  electric  break 

The  slumberous  spell ;    so  round  the  unwary  Fort, 

Enshrouded  in  nocturnal  gloom,  the    Host 

Of  slaughter-hungering  Ruffians  gather'd;  dark? 

Horrific,  noiseless,  sullen  !   While  within,  405 

"A  sleep-born  silence  held  her  solemn  sway  ; 

'Till  a  deep  yell,  the  signal  of  assault, 

Invadsd  rudely  their  astounded  ears, 

A. id  roused  the  slumbering  Garrison  to   arms. 

Now  beat   upon  the   well-defended    walls,  410 

T,ie  blazing  tempest's  thunder-driven  blasts 

Oi  ratting  Lad.     In  vain  their  fury  roar'd  ; 

Tiie  strong   Defences  every  shock  withstood, 

Until  the  foii'd  ass  iiiauts  were  rcpell'd. 

.vo  days  unceasingly  the  siege  had  flamed,  415 

V,  hen  by  the  forcibly  resisting  fire, 


214  BOONE'S 

'Twas  broken  up.     The  baffled  army,  maim'd, 

And  bleeding,  marched  forthwith  to  the  Blue  Licks  ; 

Anticipating  festinate  pursuit, 

Which  eagerly  it  wish'd  :  for  still  its  strength      420 

Was  great,  its  fury  fierce  and  unsubdued. 

From  Lexington,  from   Harrodsburg,  and   each 

Contiguous  neighborhood  and  Station,    rush'd 

At  summons  of  the  gallant  Harlancl,  Trigg, 

M'Gary,  Tocld  and  Boone,  Kentucky's  pride  !        423 

Her  bravest  patriots !  the  retreating  foe 

To  encounter.     Borne  on  lofty-mettled  steeds, 

The  wilds  in  martial  majesty  they    swept, 

Till  Licking's  craggy  banks  before  them   frown'd. 

When,  lo !  retiring  from  the  opposing   shore,         430 

The  rear  of  the  grim  Demons  they   beheld. 

With  awful  consequence  the  crisis  teem'd. 

The  gallant  Horsemen  halted  j  prudence  claim'd 

A  moment's  consultation,  on  the  course 

To  be  pursued.     For  various  were  the  marks        4S5 

Upon  the  savage  route  impress'd,  to  prove 

The  foe  in  number  four-fold  times  as  great, 

As  was  Kentucky's  patriot  -band  ;  and  well 

Were  Boone  and  others  versed  in  Indian  wiles 

Assured,  from  numerous  stratagems    descried 

In  the  procedure  of  the  tawny  host, 

That  it  design'd  to  lure  them  to  their   death. 

Boone  knew  the  ground ;  and  by  request  detail'd 

The  system  he  thought  safest  to  adopt. 

In  an  elliptic  course  the  River  wound.  44.) 


ADVENTURES.  215 


T  he  whole  of  the  peninsulatecl  land, 

1  he  browsing  Buffalo-Herds  had  bared  ;  save  that 

A  few  storm-shatter'd  trees,  still  here  and  there, 

C  lung  lonely  in  the'  rock-incrusted  soil. 

1  rom  Licking,  to  the  opposite  extveme  450 

OF  the  ellipsis,  ran  a  rugged  Ridge, 

"Whose  sides  and  summit,  full  two-thirds  their  length 

Uncover'd  lay,  and  were  to  view  exposed 

From  its  dark-timbered  end  ;  where,  clothed  in  shrubs, 

The  heads  of  two  diverging  ravines  met;  455 

Which  to  the  curving  stream  on  either  side 

Of  the  ellipse  extended.     Bonne  foiesaw 

The  snare  the  skulking  Caitiffs  had  prepared  ; 

And  warn'd  his  party  of  an  ambuscade  : 

Exhorting  them  their  forces  to   divide,  460 

And  by  a  simultaneous  march  inclose 

The  Ruffians,  in  the  toils  themselves  had  lain  ; 

Or  wait  a  reinforcement  from  their  friend, 

The  intrepid  Logan  ;  who.  with  generous  zeal 

Kentucky's  green  unsullied  banner   bore  46i 

Among  her  martial  patriots,  rousing  them 

To  arm  for  their  embattled  brethren's  aid, 

Much  the  judicious  counsel  was  approved, 
And  gave  fair  indications  to  succeed. 
When,  daringly  impatient,  ardent,  rash,  470 

IM'Gary  thuncleringly  exclaimed ;  "  To  Death 
Or  Conquest  1     Cowardice  may  waste  in  nvordt 
The  time,  and  here,  secure  from  Danger,  lag  ; 
But  Valor  will  with  me  in  Baltic  dare, 


216  BOOJTE  S 

Without  delay,  the  insulting  Savages  !"  47V> 

He  paused  not  for  reply ;  but  spur'd  his  steed, 

The  war-shout  raised,  and  rush'd  into  the  stream. 

The  impetuous  ar.lor  spread.     The  council  broke. 

All  in  precipitate  disorder   stem'd 

The  dashing  torrent,    s\vept  with  clattering  speed  480 

The  rock-paved  ridge,  'till  at  its  oak-crown'd    end, 

They  met  the  vengeance  of  the  yelling  foe, 

And  halted  in  the  whirlwind's  flaming  front. 

Swift  from  their  Horses  leap'd  the  eager  band. 

Our  HERO,  Harland,  Tiigg,  M'Gnry,    Tocld,  48.5 

And  Israel  Boone,  all  breasted  the  dread  Host ; 

With  daring  vehemence,  distinguish 'd    might. 

And  soul-inspiriting  precedency. 

Coluxo,  Costea,  and  their  base    Colleague 

The  rcnegado  Girty,  led  the  ranks  490 

Of  the  demoniac  enemy ;  and  vied 

In  dangerous  prowess,  and  destructive   deeds 

With  the  Kentuckian  CHIEFTAINS.     Fiercer  flames 

The  conflict,  as  more  near  the  Hosts   approach. 

With  Rifle-peal  and  Indian-yell,  with   plaint  49j 

Of  Death  and  valor-rousing  shout,  the  Glyns 

And  Groves  reverberate.     At  every  blast, 

On  either  side,  the   slaughtering  storm  cut  down 

Full   many  a  warrior  bold,  in  blooming  prime. 

The  gallant  Tocld   has  fallen  !     Lew  in  blood          500 

He  lies!     Ytt,  hear!  his  dying  accents  cheer 

His  brave  Compatriots.    "  Oh,  my  Friends  !  pause  not 

To  pity  me  !     The  living  claim  your  care : 


ADVENTURES.  217 


Your  Mothers,  Sisters,  Daughters,  Wives  and  Babes. 

]   die  for  them,  and  soon  shall  be  in  Heaven,        505 

Maintain  the  fight,  and  if  you  nobly  fall, 

vrou'll  fellow  me." — The  bauie  thunders  burst 

.vlore  terribly  destructive,  as  the  soul 

Of  the  fallen  Hero  fled.     A' wilder  scream 

Broke  from  the  foaming-,  painted  fiends  of  blood  ;     510 

While  Vengeance-frantic,  rush'cl  in  closer  fray 

The  adverse  Champions.— Hatchets   hurl 'd 

Blood-reeking  through  the  Rifle-spouted  flames, 

Kuhanc'd  the  horrors  of  the  deatliful  din. 

Where  thickest  flew  the  death-wing'd  weapons,  Trigs* 

The  vollied  Cour.ter-Tenjpest  to  dir.ct,  515 

His  gallant  aidarice  gave.     Coluxo   mnrk'd 

His  martial  port  uud  slaughtering  vehemence ; 

Aurl   springing   forward,  drove  his   Battlt-Axe 

1'ull  at  the  intrepid  Whitcman's  ample  breast.      520 

Deep  in  life's  purple  Cistern  had  it  plung'd  ; 

But  that  Trigg's  Rifle-Lock  its  shivering  force 

Received.     Disarm'd,  he  seized-  the  edged   weapon  ; 

And  rush'cl  to  cleave  the  enraged  Coiuxo  liow'n. 

but  Costea,  Hatchet-arm'd,  sprang  forth  lo  meet     125 

The  coming  Champion.     Fiercely    flash'd  with  rage 

Their  meeting  eyes,  Defiance  darkly  roll'd 

Upon  their  Vengeance-undulated   brows. 

Contiguous  to  the  awful  ground  they  tiode, 

Tae  Battle-blaze  a  moment  was  extinct.  530 

A  hundred  eyes  in  e.igcr  gaze   were    iixed 

Upon  the  approaching  Chiefs.     A  liiiu(;ivd   hands, 


218  BOONE'S 

With  sympathetic  impulse  griped  their  guns, 

And  backward  rose  in  hostile   attitude, 

As  the  stern  Combatants  their  Hatchets  raised.     5: 

They  strike  !     The  blow  half-baffled,   each  receives 

Slight  in  his  shoulder's  brawn,     Again  descends, 

On  either  side,  the  fury-driven  axe. 

From  Costea's  bone-bared  jaw,  huge  flesh  flakes  fall- 

Another  brunt!  again  the  Indian  bleeds  !  540 

And  from  his  wounded  hand,  the  weapon    drops. 

With  instant  bound,   his   head  he  heaves  fuli-aini'd 

At  Trigg's  blood-chipping  breast,  that  like  some  oak. 

'Gainst  which  the  furious  Bull  his  frontlet  drives, 

Unyielaing  the  impetuous  shock  sustains.  545 

Now  Costea  seizes  the  descending  axe, 

And  wards  the  blow  aimed  at  his  plumeless  head. 

With  his  uninjured  hand  he  tugs  for  life, 

But  vainly  :  from  his  desperate   gripe, 

Trigg  wrenches  the  destructive  Tomahawk,  550 

And  plants  it  in  his  head.     He  reels,  he  sinks ! 

Adown  his  long  dark  locks,  profusely   streams 

The  gusiiing  life-tide. — Again  is  plunged 

Deep  in  his  brain,  the  bleeding- steel.     lie  dies  ! 

Behold!  in  gloomy  wrath  Coluxo  conies!  5.^5 

His  stride  is  terrible  !     His  dreadful  brow 

Upon  the  victor  Champion  scowls ;  his  eye 

Through  the  death-threatening  tempest  of  his  face. 

Like  the  storm-reddening  meteor  of  deep  Night, 

Portentously  its  flaming  ire  emits.  5  >0 

He  brandishes  aloft  a  reeking   axe, 


ADVENTURES.  219 

S  latched  from  the  grasp  of  an  expiring    Peer. 

1  rigg,  maugre  much  from  his  gashed  breast  had  flown 

I  is  vigor,  rushes  to  the  combat  dire, 

A'ul  falls !     Boone,  the   Hero's  doom  beheld  ;       .   56& 

And,  hastening  whence  he  had  the  hottest  blaze 

>f  the  dread  fight  sustained,  Coluxo's   rage 

•solved  to  quell  ;  but  ere  the  ground  he   gain'd, 
From  which  the  slaughtering  Sachem    he  could  mark 
Wth    certain  aim;  lie  saw  his  gallant  son,  570 

The  blooming  Israel  reeling  from  the  ranks, 
And  bathed  in  streaming  blood  ;  while  on  him  rush'd, 
With   the  curved  scalping  steel,  the  demon  fell, 
"Whose  fatal  fire  had  in  his   valorous   breast 

deathful  lead  impcTd.     He  saw,  and  Hew       575 

through  whizzing  balls,  to  ro~c.li  the  wounded  Youth  : 
l?ut  halting  in  his  hazardous  career, 
The  scalp-dissevering  savage  shot:  then  ran, 
And  raised  his  dying  Israel  in  his  arms; 
Who  thus  in  accents  faint  his  feelings  spake —     580 
t{  Oh,  Father  !  God  presers'e  thy  noble  life 
To   see  this  lovely  land  I  now  must  leave, 
Become  the  happy  Garden  of  the   World; 
To  soothe  my  darling  Mother's  mourning  heart; 
And  be  my  Brothers'  and  my  Sisters'  Friend)       585 
Oil !  if  you  live  to  tell  my  hapless  doom  ; 
T;>  them   my  dying  benediction  bear. 
,    G  >d  save  my  Father!" — Death  his  utterance  quenched, 
he  Battle-tempest,  from  the  flaming  Wood 
ith  more  destructive  vengeance  now  emerged.       590 


220 


BOONE  S 


ecu 


In  its  sulphureous  vortex  Slaughter  rode  ; 
Grinding  his  gory  teeth,  and  yelling  deep 
And  joyously,  as  on  the  gushing  blood 
Of  gasping  Heroes,  glared  his  baleful   eye. 
A  more  exultant  scream  he  shrilly  pours, 
As  the  Herculean  Ilarland  groans  his   last  : 
And  well  the  life-devouring  fiend  might  joy, 
For  ne'er  a  premier  trophy  marked  his  sway. 

Nought  else  but  desperate  temerity  . 
Could  have  in;peil'd  Kentucky's  patriot  band, 
The  o'envhelming  death-tide  longer  to  sustain, 
Before  its  roaring  wrath  they  therefore  fi-d. 
Infernal  acclamations ;  such  as  shake 
The  burning  vaults  of  Hell,  when  conquest  crowns 
The  conflicts  of  its  King  with  virtuous  souls  ;       60S 
Along  the  reddened  welkin  fiercely  LIT. 
And  roll  the  savage  joy  wide  o'er  the  waste. 
Before  the  reeking  hatchet's  lifted  edge, 
The  close-beset  regression  was  maintained, 
Until  the  River's  dangerous  pass  was  reach'cl.       61o 
There,  dreadful  was  the  wasteful  rage  of  Death  ! 
The  fortunate  few  who  had  their  steeds  regained, 
Escaped  unharm'd — But  terrible  the  fate 
Of  those  on  ioot !     Deep  roil'd  the  surging  stream  ; 
On  either  bank  huge  hung  the  shattered  crags;    615 
Precipitate    and  violent  the  press 
That  urged  the  exhausted  Heroes'  hurried  flight. 
O'ertaken,  wounded,  faint,  some  fall  on  sl.ore 
Part  through  "the  narrow  inlet  gain  tne  lord: 


ADVENTURES.  221 


I' Art  from  the  beelleing  cliffs  plunge   in  the  stream  : 
S  >me  less  enfeebled  and  more  daring  wheel;         620 
And  meet  the  foemen  on  the  River's  brink 
1J  >one  there  encounters  fierce  Coluxo's  might. 
1  u:'u  ere  they  meet,  the  missive   Hatchet  drives 
I  fffctle.ss  at  the  other's  wary  head.  625 

1  heir  emptied  rifles  next,  with  forceful  sweep 
A  nd  shivering  clash,  in  rude  collision  meet ! 
The  Champions  stagger  from  the  ponderous    shock. 
Again  their -fragment  weapons  through  the  air 
They  wind,  and  bring  them  down  in  contact  dread.   630 
Tne  remnant  stocks  in  thousand  splinters  fly. 
The  Antagonists,  enraged  to  see  their  blows 
Thus  wasted,  grasp  with  more  infuriate   gripe 
The  nuked  Barrels,  wield  them  with  more  force  ; 
'And  a  half-bufRed  brunt  on  cither's    head  635 

Impel,     A  moment  to  their  knees  they   sink. 
J!ccovere,<}  frojn  the  stunning  stroke,  they  rise: 
But  from  their  hands,  their  battered  tubes  have  fallen. 
I:,  instantaneous  grapplement  they   join. 
A  'd  struggle  on  liie  craggy  verge  !  their  bruin     640 
\Yith  rage  and  its  late  jar  vertiginous !  — 
B   hold  1  they  seem  just  toppling  o'er  the  flood  : 
'i  ie   shattered  brink  now  breaks  I  the  sliddeiiug  mass 
Before  them  crashing,  sweeps  the  hoary  ruin. 
They  headlong  follow  1     Still  in    stubborn  clutch    645 
C  njunctive,  inituvay  down  the  smoking  steep 
prominence  their  dread  descent  arrests  ; 


222 


66( 


Whore  on  the  impeded  pile  new-fallen,  they    lodge. 

Coluxo's  undermost  as;d  bears  the   shock. 

But  lo  !   he  Leaves  with  JEgean  rage  to   rise. 

Strong  is  the  struggle  nov/,  and  perilous  : 

For  narrow  is  the  intercipient .ledge, 

A,  d  dangerous  the  rocky  points  beneath. 

Its  burdened  base  is  trembling  o'er  the  flood 

That  clashes  darkly  by.     The  moment  teems 

With  (\.  stiny.     His  danger  Boone  surveys, 

And  disenthrals  himself   with  vigorous   wrench  ; 

A  stunted  Cedar  grasps,  and  drives  his  feet 

Against  the  swift-advancing  Combatant; 

Who,  by  the  forceful  impulse  strongly   driven, 

Precipitately  from  the  peak  descends, 

And  plunging  in  the  torrent's  shuddering  deeps, 

A  moment  he's  ingulph'd !  emerging  now, 

With  visage  rage-convulsed,  and  eye  strained  upwards, 

Fierce-flashing  on  his  bold  Antagonist,  6&» 

He  flings  the  billows  from  his  heaving  sides, 

And  bounds  and  flounces  towards  the  frowning  shore. 

Boone  marked  his  mad  and  desperate  approach  ; 

And  from  the  rifted  crag,  a  loosened  rock 

Full  on  his  head  impetuously  impel'd.  671' 

Profusely  boihng  from  his  bursted  skull,  [rose, 

Through  the  white-bubbling  waves,    the    life-streams 

And  striped  with  purple  lines  the  watery    woof. 

His  eye  Boone  glances  round.     He  cannot  scale 

The  steep,  nor  has  he  footing  to  descend.  675 


ADVENTURES. 


.  nto  the  booming  stream  he  therefore  bounds! 

_ 
And  on  the  billows  rapidly  is  borne, 

To  where  the  Battle  blazes  o'er  the  Ford. 
There,  through  a  scene  oi  direst  massacre, 
Uaarm'd  he  rushes.     Mingled  yells  and  grows      680 
From  bank  to  bank  resound;  and  bl.xxl  and  flames, 
The  corse-polluted  waves  in  crimson   clothe. 
Here  closed  in  deadly  conflict,  now  immersed, 
Now  rising  through  the  strangling  surge,  appear 
The  adverse  Combatants ;  while  blind  and  faint,    685 
The  wounded  there  are  reeling  seen,  til]   roll'd 
Ly  the  red  torrent  to  its  drowning  gulphs. 

Now,  as  the  rugged  crags  yon  Hero  climbs, 
The  death-shot  drives  him  through — His  action  ends. 
-  A   moment  to  the  rock  he  feebly  clings —  '  690 

Qoose ; 

He  backward   bends — His   strengthless    hands    break 
Down,  down  the  precipice,  he  headlong  falls  ! 
And  at  its  base  a  bleeding  ruin  floats. 
But  Boone  the  friendly  shore  has  safely  gained  : 
And  lo  I  the  Horsemen  halt  and  wheel  and  fire  !    695 
Short  time,  the  vehement  pursuit  is  check'd  : 
Kentucky's  gallant  residue  oa  laud, 
At  length  arrive : — Again  the  deep-mouthed  yell 
Hot  pour'd,  the  sanguinary  chase  proclaims  ; 
Which  ceases  not,  till  Bryant's  sheltering  Fort      700 
Deceives  the  exhausted  band.     There,  on  his  march, 
Brave  Logan  and  his  gallant  force,  they  meet. 
These  with  them  wend  to  the  red  slaughter-field, 


2t4  BOONE'S 

Eager  to  avenge  their  fellow-patriots'  doom. 

But  the  Barbarian  Victors  have  escaped  ; 

And  sated  Death  sleeps  on  the  silent  ground. 

Oh,  what  a  mournful  spectacle  is  there  ! 

Behold  !  the  Hero  who  three  days  ago, 

In  towering  elegance  and  manhood's  bloom, 

The  ranks  of  Battle  graced;  now  roll'd  in   gore,  710 

Out-stretch'd  and  pallid  on  the  corse-strewn  plain  ! 

No  more  to  meet  the  embrace  of  that  fond  Wife 

And  prattling  Son,  who  gazed  with  tearful  eyes, 

As  from  his  sylvan  mansion  he  withdrew, 

Waving  his  hand  in  token  of  his  love.  715 

Ah.  God  I  what  gloomy  Stillness  hovers    round 

The  bloody  scene.     No  sound  its  awful  reign 

Disturbs  ;  save  the  gorged  Vulture's  dismal  croak 

As  from  his  prey  with  dark  and  heavy    wing, 

He  rises  slowly  to  the  laden  bough  720 

Of  some  huge  Oak.     In  solemn  mood,  with  steps 

Of  meditative  measure,  'mongst  the  blain 

The  Heroes  move.     See  Boone  stand  weeping    o 

His  mangled  son !     Now  claspingthc  cold  hand  ! 

And  now,  ere  in  the  grave's  dark  cell  the  Youth    7 

Is  covered,  gently  severing  from  his  locks, 

A  relick  dear  to  the  maternal  heart. 

The  sepulture's  performed ;  Night  spreads  her  shades  ; 

And  the  scared  prowlers,  to  the  carnagcd  gioiu.u 

Return  ;  where  dismally  they  howl   'till  morn.        730 

To  all,  especially  to  Boone,  it   was 

A  night  of  drearies;  ^aa.^b  ;  hoarsely  plained 


ADVENTURES.  225' 

"he  putrid  River-surge  ;  the  Night-Birds  screamed 
n  notes  of  shrillest  horror  ;  and  the  skies 
Afflicted  for  Kentucky's  rueful   loss,  735 

Their  melancholy  vestments  had  assumed. 
5 low  could  they  not?  For  Angels  there  abide, 
And  they  beheld  her  wrap'd  in  saddest  Grief; 
Beheld  her  widowed  Fair,  aa  through  their  hearts 
The  awful  tidings  of  their  husbands'  death  740 

Transpierced;  in  wildest  phrenzy  clasp  their  B;xbes« 
And  weep  in  all  the  wretchedness  uf  Woe. 

The  task  of  keenest  agony  to  Boone 
Had  yet  to  be  perform'd.     Oh !  see  him  now 
Approaching  sadly  his  expecting  home.  745 

His  Infants  spy  at  distance  their  loved  Sire, 
His  solemn  step  is  marked.     His  Wife  beholds 
The  boding;  blood-stains  on  his  altered  robes— 
No  ISRAEL  conies  in  view!     Each  little  breast 
Predictive  beats — Her  own  tumultuous  heaves —  750 
'Tis  true  /  that  look,  that  silence  speak  it  so  / 
'Tis  true,  the  darling  Youth  shall  never  more 
Return  to  enjoy  the  transports  of  their  love. 
Behold,  the  embrace  that  bursts  the  swelling   heart  / 
Tears  now  have  vent,  and  deluge  every   cheek.     755 
See  with  .what  frantic  tenderness,  what   throbs 
Of  deep  emotion,  the  sad  mother  takes 
The  sacred  lock  of  her  "  departed   Son," 
vVith  ardent  kisses  seals  it  to  her   lips, 
And  washes  off  with  tears  its  bloody  stains.  760 

To  Sorrow's  sway,  throughout  the  settled  bounds 


226 


BOONE  3 


rou 


775 


Of  young  Kentucky,  -vengeful  zeal   succeeds. 

With  thundering'  emphasis,  his   heeded  voice 

Boone  raised,  and  bade  his  Western  Brethren 

To  Battle,  and  their  i-ising  country  save  /  ' 

The  good,  the  valiant,  the  immortal  Clarke 

And  Logan  seconded  the  patriot  call ; 

And  pointed  to  that  Hill's  ensanguined  brow, 

Where  gallant  Harland,  Todd  and   Trigg  had    bk 

A  thousand  bosoms  at  tne  summons  burn'd, 

To  mingle  in  the  blood-avenging  fight. 

The  Stripling,  and  the  Grand  Sire  grey  in  years, 

The  half-plough'd  furrow  and  the  fire-side  leave  ; 

To  wield  the  implements  of  direful   War. 

The  Host  is  marshal'd,  and  the  march  begins. 

The  Foemen  learn  its  menacing  approach, 

And  their  untenable  encampment  fly. 

The  howl  of  Horror,  Consternation  wild, 

And  yeilin^-s  of  infuriated  wrath, 

Through  their  distracted  Villages  extend. 

Behold/  these  too  the  tawny  swarms  forsake/ 

And  where  they  late  their  barbarous  orgies  held, 

Devasting  flames  now  revel.     Ruin's    stride 

And   Whirlwind-breath  the  embattled  ranks  attend. 

The  Chilicothes  now  in  embers  glow  /  785 

Will's  Town  and  Peckaway  arc  sinking  too, 

Beneath  fierce   Conflagration's  wasteful  blasts. 

Rude  Desolation  sweeps  the  Corn-clothed  fields, 

And  to  the  Indians'  view  a  prospect   spreads  ; 

That  e'en  their  boldest  Warrior's  arm  unnerves,  790 


ADVENTURES.  227 

prompts  their  Chiefs  to  supplicate   for   PEACE. 
Columbia's  Western  Star  in  splendors   now, 
'  Through  an  unclouded  azure  streaming,  sheds 
)n  drooping  hearts,  the  beams  of  sweetest  Hope  ; 
\nd  withers  to  a  scroll  the  grumous  flag  795 

Of  groaning  War.     His  labors,  Boone  beholds 
Unfolding  theft  rich  Comforts  o'er  the  West : 
While  Amity's  restrictive  bonds  confine 
The  nerves  of  savage  Slaughter.     Happy  now, 
Jn  contemplation  of  the  brightening    scene,  800 

He  to  AFFECTION'S  sweet  embrace  retires  ; 
And  reaps  the  Harvest  of  his  useful  toils. 
Immortal  Founder  of  stupendous   States  ! 
While  generous  prowess  wakes   the  soul's  applause ; 
While  consecration  to  a  Nation's  weal  805 

Of  all  the  energies  of  Mind  and  Nerve, 
Enkindles  warm  sensations  of  regard  ; 
Thy  name,  in  Freedom's  sun-crown'd  Fane  enshrined, 
With  the  rich  incense  of  a  Million's    love 
E.nbalmed,  shall  live.    How  rapturous  to  thy  heart,  810 
Thou  venerable  Hero  j     How   sublime, 
[low  beauteous,  how  divine  J   the  prospect  now 
Of  that  Republic,  which  thy  patriot  hand 
Implanted  in  the  direful   Wilderness. 
i,o  J   flourishing  uncaukered,  and  immense,  815 

It  strengthens,  rises,  spreads  and  blooms  to  Heaven  1 
Its  branches  mingle  with  the  stars;  and  crown'd 
With  Harps   Angelic,  wave  mid  purest  gales 
Celestial;  animate   with  melody, 


228  BOOXE'S 

-By  Freedom's  Seraph  Martyrs  sweetly  made ; 
And  fragrant  as  the  fruits  of  Paradise. 

Well  might  it  fill  with  an  cxtatic  pride 
The  soul  of  him,  whose  valor  laid  the  base 
Of  Free  Columbia's  occidental  States  ; 
To  view  the  glories  that  invest  them  DOW  J 
Where  shall  the  Muse  the  Reader's  eye    direct, 
To  shew  the  brightest  deeds,   where    all   are    bright 
In  grand  extreme  ?     Who  can  the  blazing  disk 
Of  the  unclouded  Orb  of  Day  divide, 
And  say  behold  the  most  effulgent  part  ?  830 

'   she  pursue  the   Widow's  plaining  sigh, 
To  where  the  graves  of  Daviess,   Owen,    White, 
And  Spencer  bloom  in  -Honor's  purest    beams, 
Embossing  the  dark  wilds  where  WABASII  rolls  ? 
Or  shall  she  turn  to  Raisin's  awful  plains,  835 

And  point  to  where  the  bones  of  Allen,   Mead, 
M'Cracken,  Edwards,  Simpson,  Hickman,  Hart, 
And  Woolfolk  hallow  the  ensanguined  soil  ? 
Or  to  Sunduski's  shore   and  sing  the  applause 
Of  Croghan,  Fiv  dom's  Western    Washington, 
And  his  immortal   Band  ;  whose  patriot  names, 
The  Tyrants  of  succeeding  times  shall    dread, 
And  future  Proctors  tremble  when  they  hear 
Oh  no  j   'tis  wasting  language  to  detail. 
Ohio's  and   Kentucky's  Fame   extends 
Wherever  valorous  Liberty  is  loved  ; 
And  even  toils  its  splendors  through  the  glooms, 
Where  blinking  Despots  gorged  with  empires'  blood, 


ADVENTURES.  »     229 


O'er  Freedom's  desolated  Temples  nod  ! 
Il.ustrious  States!     Who  has  not  seen  thy  Sons,  850 
Thy  patriot  Sons, 'in  thousands;  from  the  scenes 
Of  Opulence  and  sweet  domestic  bliss, 
With  pure  unvenal  ardor  rushing   forth 
To  fields  of  feliest  danger — Not  to   war 
\Yith  Foes  magnanimous,  of  souls   humane  855 

And  generous,  who  disdain  to  waste  the  blood, 
And  wound  the  pride  of  vanquished  Combatants  ; 
But  Foes  beneath  whose  ignominious  arms, 
The  Babe,  the  Vestal  and  the  Matron  bleed. 
"Who  has  not  seen  thy  free-born  Heroes  dare,       860 
The  Horrors  of  Barbarian  Ambushment ; 
And  uncomplaining,  though  with  hunger  pale, 
And  long  without  repose,  through  brumal  storms, 
Snow-covered  Swamps  of  wearisome   extent, 
And  wintry  terrors  of  a  howling  Wild,  865 

Intently  toiling  to  encounter  Fiends, 
Unrighteous  as  ere  ranged  the  Internal  glooms  : 
Ferocious  Monsters ;  cruel  as  ere  yell'd 
For  Victim's  blood  I     Who  has  not  seen   thy   Hosts 
Those   Monsters  meet,  and  honor  the  high  cause,  8?0 
Li  which  their  generous  bosoms  freely  bled. 
Where  is  Columbia's  son,  whose  eye  can  glance 
O'er  the  bright  page  of  their  immortal  deeds, 
And  not  let  fall  a  tear  of  extacy  ? 
Who  would  not  deem  it  honor  to  be  call'd  &7i 

A  citizen  of  the  same  land,. where  lives 

U 


230 


890 


The  patriot  Warriors,  Shelby,    Harrison, 

Desha,  M' Arthur,  Cass  and  Johnson  :  names 

Imperishable   as  e'er  were  canonized, 

On  the  illustrious  rolls  of  Martyrdom  !  S80 

Yes,  noble  sons  of  a  Republic  !     Time, 

When  mingles  with  the  dust  of  tombs,  the    heart 

That  now  this  humble  meed  of  praise  dictates  ; 

Shall  roll  your  glories  brightening  down  his  stream, 

Till  on  Eternity's  effulgent  waves  885 

They  blaze,  reflecting  on  your  blissful  souls 

Beatitude  perpetual.     Nor  are  they, 

The  only  Heroes  of  celebrious  name, 

Whose  splendid  Virtues  shed  sublime  renown, 

Upon  those  glorious  States.     A  Clay,  a   Ball, 

A  Lewis  and  innumerous  more,  the  Muse 

Might  call  to  adorn  her  page.     But  BEAUTY'S  claim 

Demands  her  strain  applausive  and  sincere. 

If  transports  warm  the  hoary  Veteran's  heart 

Who  founded  the  Republics  of  the  West,  895 

To  see  their  Sons  engarlanded  with  Fame's 

Unwithering  laurels :     Who  shall  tell  what  tides 

Of  deeper  rapture  swell  his  musing  soul, 

As  he  the  odoriferous  wreaths  beholds 

Of  Virtue's  richest  flowers,  which    adorn  900 

Their  blooming    Daughters — Well  may  Bravery  shield 

Their  peerless  Breasts  :  for  Bravery  wins  their  smiles  ; 

While  mean  inglorious  Dastardy   receives 

Their  frowning  scorn.      What  bosom  does  not  burn 

To  bleed  in  Freedom's  battles,  when  such  Fair,     90S 


ADVENTURES.  231 


Their  Brothers  and  their  Lovers  too  exhort, 
Their  lives  in   her  defence  to  jeopardize. 

My  patriotic  Sisters  of  the  West  ! 
Accept  this  humble  plaudit  of  a  heart 
That  loves  you  dearly.     High  indeed  the  praise,  9H» 
And  happily  received  ;  could  you  approve 
For  Freedom's  sake  my   unpreauming  Song. 
Oft  through  admiring  Fancy's  eye,  I've  seen 
Your  lilly  fingers,  form  the  Warrior's  robe; 
And  soiely  wounded  with  the  piercing    steel, 
The  honored  garment  with  pure  crimson  stain  ; 
Leaving  expressive  emblems  of  the    Deeds 
He  should  achieve ;  and  symbols  of  the  love 
Your  bosoms  for  the  gallant  soldier   bore. 
Oft  too  your  tender  bodings  I  have  seen 
And  anxious  Hopes;  while  undecided  yet 
Remained  the  destiny   of  those  ye   loved, 
Your  valiant  Country 'men  !     Oh  !  when  arrived 
The  agonizing  tidings  of  defeat — 

Of  the  fierJLdious  Massacres  that  stained  925 

With  infamy  a  butchering  foe  ;  and  tore 
From  many  a  noble  head  the  streaming  scalp  ; 
Where  fell  those  clearer  far  perhaps  than  life ; 
How  were  your  anguished  and  indignant   breasts 
With  keen  and  violent  emotions  pained  : 
But  when  the  joyous  news  of  Conquest  came, 
How  changed  your  feelings;  how  divinely  sweet; 
How  glowing  then  with  thankful  extacies  ! 
And   when  the  honored  soldier   home   returned, 


J3J  BOONE'S  ADVENTURES. 

What  kind,  what  tender  welcomes  ye  bestowed!  935 

How  carefully  his  rankling  wounds  deterged ; 

And  with  attentions  bland  and  smiles  benign, 

Rewarded  all  his  dangers,  pains  and  toils. — 

This  magic  theme  could  long  my  Muse;  detain, 

But  lo  !  her  desultorious  song-  draws   nigh  940 

Its  beckoning  goal ;  and  we,  sweet  Fair,  must  part ! 

Perennial  as  the  charms  of  the  rich   land, 

Whose  healthful  gales  your  honied  breath  perfumes, 

May  your  bright  Virtues  bloom  ;  to  crown  with  bliss 

The  gallant  Boone's  the  shields  of  Honors's  shrine  ! 

Who  share  the  mild  dominions  of  your   Love,       946 

And  drive  the  Myrmidons  of  Tyrant  thrones 

From  their  ensanguined  Cars.     And  ye  pure  Slates, 

The  Western  Pillars  of  Columbia's  Dome, 

The  Dome  of  Liberty  !     Still  may  ye  stand  950 

With  glories  of  ten  thousand  Boones  emblazed  ; 

Sustaining  with  distinguished  eminence 

Your  portion  of  the  Edifice  sublime  ; 

While  Kingdoms  disappear  in  floods  of  gore 

And  Revolutions  rock  the  reeking  globe:  955 

Yea,  till  the  pageant  Bubbles  of  the    World 

Aie  into  dread  Annihilation  blown  ; 

And  Oceans,  Suns  and  Spheres  before  the  blaze 

Of  Heaven's  avenging  Anger,  are    consumed  ! 


THE 


OF 


VIRTUOUS 


REFINED  BEAUTY. 


VHAT  moving  charms  fair  Beauty's  form   invest, 
When  with  divinest  disposition  blest  ! 
When  all  the  blooming  tints  and  liliied  hues, 
Which  kind  creative  Nature  spreads  profuse 
In  mingled  Union,  sweetly  harmonize 
With  mental  Grace,  the  darling-  of  the  skies. 
When   Angel  mildness  smooths  the  arching  brow, 
And  gives  the  eye  its  love-inspiring  glow  ; 
Diffuses  blushes  o'er  the  dimpled  cheek, 
And  tunes  the  lips  in   Orphean  strains  to  speak. 
What  speechless  transports  melt  the  thrilling  heart. 
And  Love's  intenerating  joys  impart ; 

When  Beauty's  ears  the  themes  of  Scandal   fly, 

2 


234 


AND 


And  hear  with  sympathy  Affliction's  sigh  ; 

Attentive,  hear  the  weeping  Widow's  moan, 

The  Orphan's  sob  and   piteous  feeble  groan  : 

Oh,  yes  !  it  wakes  in   Man's  cold  flinty  breast 

The  flame  of  Love,  to  see  fair  Beauty  drest 

In  holy  Virtue's  purest  rob'.-s  of  si.ow, 

Yet  warm  at  heart  as  Summer's  ardent  glow  : 

To  see  her  soothing  hand  \.ith  melting  grace, 

The  Litter  tears  of  hopeless  Woe  efl'.'ce; 

And,  like  imbodii  d   Mercy,  hovering  near 

The  heart  that  flutters  on  dread  Death's   fell  spear  ; 

With  sweet  Religion's  peace-inspiring   balm, 

Diffusing  through   the  Soul  a  holy  calm  ; 

With  Charity's  divinely  grateful   aid, 

Bid  Poverty's  unfeeling  arm  be  staid  ; 

Subdue  ferocious  Hunger's  gnawing  rage, 

And  warm  with  joy  the  withered  veins  of  age ; 

Spread  beds  of  down  upon  the  chilling  floor, 

And  bid  the  shivering  tenants  quake  no   more. 

VTis  Beauty  thus  adorned  with  seraph  charms, 

That  purifies  the  stoic  heart  it  warms  ; 

That  tenches   Man's  obdurate  heart  of  steel, 

The  poignant  thrills  of  hallow'd  Love  to    feel. 

Not  such  as  the  Coquetish  Thing  of  Art 

Attempts  to  kindle  in  the  unyielding  heart ; 

But  that  which  subliautcs  the  noble    soul 

And  points  its  powers  to  some  important  goal  j 

That  binds  the  h  ait  wi.h  entrgttic  ties, 

To  deeds  of  virtuous  aim  and  proud  emprise ; 


REFINED    BEACTT.  235 


'"hat  predisposes  eveiy  valiant   mind, 
To  be  humane,  magnanimous  and  kind  ; 

Hfhat  gives  to  patriot  zeal  heroic    fire, 
Vnd  makes  the  daring  Youth   to  Fame  aspire ; 
That  nerves  the  Warrior's  arm  with  conquering  power, 
And  makes  him  fearless  bide  the  slaughtering  hour. 
[i  wounds  should  gash  the  Heroes  manly  breast, 
And  stain  the  plumage  of  his  snowy  crest; 
He  gives  his  blood  a  free-will  Sacrifice 
To  Virtuous  Beauty  as  a  glorious   price  : 
The  cnly  equal  meritorious  meed 

For  charms,  for  which  a  thousand  breasts  would  bleed  !  , 
Though  the  red  efflux  drains  the   "  fount  of  life," 
Pie  towers  still  amid  the  clashing-  strife  ; 
He  launches  Death  amidst  embattled    Hosts, 
And  wrecks  on  waves  of  blood  a  thousand    ghosts. 
For  in  defence  of  blooming  Virtue's  rights, 
Though  wounded,  still   the  bleeding  Hero  fights  I 
And  should  fierce  Death  arrest  his  proud   career, 
He  nobly  yields  his  breath  without  a  fear  1 
For  Justice,  Beauty,  Eloquence  and    Truth, 
And  ail  the  sacred  fires  of  amorous  Youth, 
His  soul  inspired,  impel'd  him  forth  to   War, 

,    And  light  his  closing  Hie  with  Hope's  bright  Star. 
Thus  with  triumphant  unexceeded  sway, 
Or  in  the  blaze  of  Glory's  conquering  day, 

-   Or  in  the  dreadful  Night  of  Death's  dark   gloom, 
Sweet  Beauty  rules  with  animating'  bloom  ! 
The  greenest  ga<%laud  weaves  for   Conquest's  brow, 


„ 


23Qf  VIRTUOUS     AN9 

And  makes  the  proud,  the  lofty  Monarch  bow  ; 
Illumes  the  darkness  of  the  eternal  wave, 
And  kindles  glory  in  the  solemn  grave  ! 

Through  the  dim  regions  of  departed    time, 
Like  monuments  resplendently   sublime, 
Which  spread  their  fulgour  through  the  sombre  air, 
The  names  of  many  a  wise  and  virtuous  Fair, 
With  splendors  immarcessible  shall  shine,  } 
While  Emulation's  kindling  flames  divine,  C 
The  female  world  illumine  and   refine.         \ 
Through  the  Historic  telescope,  our  eyes, 
In  distant  Rome's  corruption-clouded  skies, 
Mid  Horror-glaring  Meteors  red  with    crimes, 
O'er  blood-assembled  Seas  of  Tyrant  times  ! 
Mid  satellites  of  Luxury  and  Power, 
Behold  a  mildly  brilliant  Planet  tower, 
And  keep  her  danger-crouded  course  unstnin'd, 
Though  to  the  bloody  Comet  Nero,  chain'd  ! 
It  is  divine  Octavia,  whose  soft  light 
Illumes  the  murkiest  shades  of  heathen  Night. 
Her  Virtue,  Beauty  and  Refinement  shed, 
A  radiance  from  whose  power  dark   Demons   fled  ; 
And   which,  with  jealous  Malice  they  essayed, 
T:>  eclipse   with  Slander's  fame-destroying  shade. 
E'en  her  imperial  Hufcband's  savage  soul, 
Was  forced  to  feel  their  dominant  control, 
And  the  execution  of  his  Hell-inspired    design 
Her  taintless  blood  to  spill,  awhile    decline. 
Tis  true  her  seraph  charms  could  not  assuage, 


REFINED    BEAUTY.  23T 


"he  infamous  Poppea's  harpy  rage; 

Nor  pitiful  Tigellinus  inspire, 

Y/ith  one  warm  glow  of  Feeling's  noble  fire  : 

skit  their  confederate  machinations  failed, 

To  force  from  wretches  on  the  stake  impaled, 

Sufficient  evidence  to  stain  the   fame, 

Of  her  whose  life  was  pure  as  solar  flame. 

So  influential  on  the  public  mind, 

The  charms  of  virtuous  Beauty  thus  refined  ; 

That  when  the  imperial  Tyrant's  pityless  power, 

Hung  o'er  her  harmless  head  with  bloody  lower, 

And  the  fair  Empress-  into  exile  hurled  ; 

The  indignation  of  an  angered  World, 

Waked  by  the  weeping  Sufferer's  cruel  Woes, 

In  threatening  .murmurs  round  his  throne  arose  ; 

Claiming  the  banished  Innocent's    recall, 

And  liberation  from  her  captive  thrall. 

The  monster's  merciless  mandate  was  repealed, 

And  her  imfiressive  Majesty  revealed  ! 

or,  acclamations  .from  a  Nation's  tongue, 
As  she  returned,  her  joyous  welcome  rung. 
The  incensed  Defenders  of  an  injured  breast, 
Puli'd  clown  the  proud  Poppea's  rival  crest ; 
Her  statues  tumbled  headlong  to  the  dust, 
And  called  for  vengeance  on  her  crimes  to  burst; 
Octavia's  images  with  chaplets   hung, 
Bright  feuilhige  and  flowers  around  them  flung ; 
Triumphant  bore  them  through  the  sounding  streets, 
And  placed  them  o'er  the  Temple's  sacred   stats. 


233  VIRTUOUS    AND 

Strong-visaged  Labor  sought  the  wine-crown'd  board, 

And  viands  rich  and  fruits  the  tables  stored  ; 

Loud  peals  of  Joy  the  trembling  breezes  sweli'cl, 

And  care  from  every  bosom  was   expel'd. 

A  Sovereign,  o'er  the  ample  city  throned, 

FESTIVITY  diffused  her  pleasures  round  : 

'Till   saturated  with  the  vinous  dew 

Her  Votaries  from  their  sparkling  boards  withdrew  ; 

Unapprehensive  that  fierce  Fortune's  frown, 

So  soon  to  Death  would  bring  their  Favorite  down : 

Or  else  their  vigilance  had  never    slept 

Till  from  her  life  the  threatening  storm  was  swept 

The  Rival  Tigress  stung  with  envious  ire, 

Inflamed  again  the  /-Tyrant's  slumbering  lire: 

Assassination,  red  with  patriots'  blood, 

In  readiness  before  the  Monsters  stood ; 

And  fiercely  at  their  Hell-inspired  behest 

His  gory  dagger  plunged  in  her  white  Breast  •! 

Again  her  influence  o'er  the  public    mind 

Was  evidenced  by  sorrows  uncoufined. 

All  Rome  was  wrap'd  in  melancholy   Woe, 

And  weeping  thousands  felt  their  anguish  flo\r. 

Like  the  portentous  rumblings  which  presage, 

The  mountain-bwaliowmg  Earthquake's  bursting  rage; 

Indignant  murmurs  through  the  Nation   ran, 

And  awed  the  Emperor  and  his  fell  Divan. 

In  every  Nation  and  in  every  age, 
Octavias  brighten  the  Historic  page. 
In  Grecian  tablets,  see  fair  Phitas's  name, 


REFINED    BEAUTY.  23* 

Engraved  in  capitals  of  brilliant  fame. 

In  her  what  lustrous  graces  were  conjoined  ! 

What  charms  of  Person,  and   what  powers  of  Mind ! 

While  yet  a  young  and  inexperienced  Maid, 

Great  Antipater  deigned  to  ask  her  aid. 

In  exigence  and  matters  of  emprise, 

With  her  was  wont  to  counsel  and  advise ; 

To  her  the  powers  juridical  resigned, 

And  the  great  secrets  of  the  State  confined. 

Afflicted  Virtue,  Innocence  distress'd, 

And  Modesty  by  poverty  oppress'd, 

Her  kindness  and  munificence  engaged  : 

O'er  them  she  w-ept  and  their  keen  woes  assuaged. 

The  Macedonian  Troops  with  faction  wild, 

At  her  approach   grew  orderly  and  mild  ; 

Distraction,  tumult,  turbulence  and   ire, 

And  raging  Insurrection's  kindling  fire; 

As  if  by  Fascination's  magic   sway, 

Her  harmonizing  influence  could   allay. 

To  Rome's  records  again  my  Muse  returns, 
To  sing  a  page  that  with  bright  glory  burns  ! 
'Tis  her  portrayed  with   such  transcendant   mien, 
She  sings;  the  lovely  Palmyrenean  Queen! 
In  Beauty  Cleopatra's  counterpart, 
But  her  superior  both  in  mind  and  heart. 
Famed  Odenathus  well  might  feel  her  charm  at, 
Or  in  the  shade  of  love  or  blaze  of  arms.    *- 
Her  cheeks  of  clear  vermilion-tinted   brown, 
And  bosom  softer  than  the  Cygnet's  down ; 


240  VIRTUOUS    AND 

Her  voice  of  fine  commanding  melody, 

Her  lofty  port  and  graceful  dignity, 

Her  sloe-black    genius-emanating  eye, 

And  soul  refined,  magnanimous  and  high  ! 

These  well  a  Warrior  Prince's  heart  might    \vin, 

And  sway  the  blazing  Battle's  thundering  din ; 

Might  well  the  throne  of  Sovereignty  adorn, 

And  life's  inglorious  occupations  scorn. 

Where  in  the  page  of  past  or  present   time, 

Is  found  a  sovereign's  name  less  stained  with  crime 

Or  which  to  brighter  ministerial  fame, 

And  regal  wisdom  dare  prefer  a  claim  ? 

Arabia,  Persia,  and  Armenia  owned, 

With  her  a  potent  Princess  was  enthroned ; 

Regarded  her  augmenting  strength  with   awe, 

And  energy   in  all  her  measures  saw  : 

Her  martial  skill  with  admiration  view'd, 

And  for  her  Friendship  and  Protection  sued : 

Her  counsel  prudent,  luminous,    profound, 

The  Palmyrean  prince  with  honors  crowned  ; 

Shed  lustre  through  the  Battle's  blackening   clouds, 

And  pointed  Victory  to  his  bleeding  crouds  ! 

Palmyra's  Temples,  Palaces  and  Towers, 

In  beaming  pomp  proclaimed  Zenobia's  powers. 

Their  crumbling  vestiges  and  relicks  grey, 

E'en  now  her  proud  Magnificence  display  ; 

And  to  the  curious  Pilgrim's  pausing    eye, 

Who  lingering  sadly  round  heaves  many  a  sigh, 

Present  material  Monuments  sublime, 


REFINED    BEAUTY.  Z4  1 

Of  high-spuled  Beauty's  triumph  over  time  ! 

For  numerous  Centuries  armed  with  steel  and  flume, 

Have  not  destroyed  the  trophies  of  her  Fame  ; 

And  when  at  length  their  last  dim  beam  expires, 

Her  deeds  shall  live  in  History's  deathless  fires !    - 

Her  charms,  by   great  Aurelian   drawn, 

Shall  shine  unchanged  till  Time's  last  glimpse  is  gone! 

On  Conquest's  tide  with  bannered  sails  unfurl'd, 
The  dread  and  wonder  of  a  warring  world  ! 
With  fierce  intrepid  legions  at  his  will, 
That  haughty  Ivnperor  own'd  Zenobia's  skill ; 
Confess'd   his  fears  of  her  well-managed   might, 
Invoked  the  Gods  to  aid  him  in  the  Fight, 
And  doubtful  of  the  Conflict's  final  fate, 
In  vain  attempted  to  capitulate. 
The  Quern  indignantly  his  pi-offers  spnrn'd, 
And  bold  defiance  to  his  threats  return  "d; 
To  accept  his  proposition  to  retreat, 
Though  liberal,  she  regarded  as  defeat ; 
Nor  till  the  accession  ol  resistless    Hosts, 
Confirmed   Aurelian's  angry    boasts, 
With   vengeance  menaced   her  beleaguered  bands, 
And  proved  his  power  to  enforce  his  fit -ret  coum.ands; 
Did   her  sublime-   un  or.quered  spirits  sink  : 
"Tw-is  piui'ent  then   to  fly  flora  Ruin's  brink. 
In  haste  sin'  fled;  but  with   eler."u-  speed, 
Was  oveinLej,  by  mni;y  a  nmiM •:    i     si  rd  ; 
Arrested  on  tl,e  banks  of  EUJ-!  i  ;t<  s, 

V 


242  Tinruous 

And,  sagely  sad  in  dignified  distress; 
With  majesty  of  mien  and  iofty  head, 
Back  to  the  proud  exulting  Emperor  led. 
At  length  the  Conqueror's  glorious  Victories   o'er, 
He  Itf;   the  land  of  carnage,  death  and   gore  ; 
And  back  to  g-reat  imperial  Rome  return'cl, 
"Where   Conquest's  altars  blazed  and  bonfires  burn'd  ; 
Where  trumpets  peal'd  and  acclamations  rung; 
Where  arches  siione,  with  rich  festoons  o'erhung ; 
And  all  a  City's  gorgeous  charms  unveil'd, 
The  grand   Aurelian's  glorious  entry  hailM. 
'Twas  vanquished  Beauty's  powerful  splendors  shed, 
Such  blazing  honors  rour.d  the  Conqueror's  head  : 
'Twas  not  the  captive  Tetricus  that  crowned, 
His  brilliant  fame  and  waked  the  applauding  sound; 
Tt  was  the  achievement  of  the  immortal  deed, 
Which  from  Zenobia's  power  the  Emperor  freed. 
A  c'eed  whose  glory  now  to  celebrate, 
In  all  the  grandeur  of  triumphant  state, 
The  v^st  preparatory  rites  begin, 
Ard  Rome's  wide  regions  tremble  with  the  din  ! 
The  morn  of  Triumph  dawns.     The  trumpets  sound, 
And  mingled  music   sprightly  and  profound ; 
Transporting,  martial,  mellow,  dulcet,  gay, 
Salutes  with  spreading  notes  the  exultant    day. 
A  thousand  portals  are  unfolded  wide ; 
The  streets  are  deluged   with  the  peopled  tide  ; 
The  pavements  tremble  with  thick-thundering  tread  j 
And  incense  on  the  fragrant  gales  is  spread. 


REFINED    BEAUTY.  243 

hest  pride,  by  mettled  Chargers  drawn, 
Careering  Cnariots  gilcl  the  dusky  dawn; 
On  Victpry's  altars  slaughtered  bullocks  bleed, 
And  their  ascending  fat  by  fire  is  freed: 
With  thankful  paeans  the  great  temples  sound, 
And  Mars  beholds  with  gold  his  statues  crowned. 
The  proud  processionary  order  plan'd, 
The  march  began  obedient  to  command ; 
The  slow-advancing  van  in  victor  show, 
Displayed  the  furry  lords  of  Northern  snow  ; 
The  gentler  natives  of  the  milder  East  ; 
An.l  every  kind    of  huge  and  swarthy  Beast, 
That  roams  beneath  the  blaze  of  torrid  skies. 
There  gleamed  the  royal  Tigers'  threatening   eyes  ; 
And  ponderous  Elophants  with  heavy   peace, 
In  the  grand  Phalunx  held  tlie  tVont-rank   place. 
Lo  1  next  in  order  to  the  wild   menage, 
Are  the  actors  on  the  gladiatorial  stage  : 
A  savage-heart teci|  fierce,  inhuman  Host! 
To  sport  with  biood  their  tracie.  their  pridl,  their  boast! 
To  these  succeed  the  ambassadorial  tiv.in, 
A   splendid   link  in  the  triumphal   chain  ; 
On  embassy  from  various  realms  they  came, 
Where  endless   Winters  blow  or  Summers  flume  ; 
Or  where  those   raging  uncontrolled  extremes, 
Usurp  no  sway  o'er  Phoebus'  milder  beams. 
In  richest  variegated  robes  arrayed, 
The  tastes  of  different  Kingdoms  they  displayed  ; 
Tu  proud  Aurelian's  pomp,  their  own  combined, 


14*  VIRTUOUS    AN» 

And  in  the  general  praise,  their  plaudits  join'd. 
The  Captives  next  of  many  a  conquered  State, 
Proceed^  with  saddened  air  and  sullen   gait  ; 
In  humble-crested,  long-extended  ranks, 
Alemmani  Sarmatians,  Syrians,  Franks, 
Egyptians,  Vandals,  Goths  and  Gauls  proclaim, 
The  victories  that  emblaze  the  Emperor's  fame. 
In  ti  e  sublime  procession  now  appears, 
The  captive  Queen  ;  her  cheeks  impearl'd  with  tears, 
Her  graceful  limbs  with  golden  chains    compress'd , 
Her  languid  head  hung  drooping  o'er  her  breast ; 
With  splendid  jewels  decked  her  vestments    shone, 
In  brighter  blaze  than  when  she  graced  the  thron 
That  peerless  form  which  Princes  had  admired ; 
Whose  charms,  with  love,  proud  conquering  Chieftains 
Which  once  had  fierce  embattled  armies  ied,      [fired, 
And  worn  the  palm  where  wounded  thousands  bled  ; 
Now  under  loads  of  gold  and  diamonds  bowed, 
To  catch  the  gaze  of  an  admiring  croud; 
To  swell  the  grandeur  of  the  proud    display, 
And  give  more,  glory  to  the  Conqueror's  sway; 
That  form)  now  vanquished,  humbled  and  disgraced, 
Whose  beauteous  neck  a  golden  chum  embraced, 
Held  and  supported  by  a  menial's  ham', 
Was  forced  to  bear  Submission**  finblic  brand  I 
Next  in  the   grand  processional  y    line 
The  vanquished  Sovereigns'  sumptuous  Chariots  shine. 
Now,  blazing  in  their  splendor-Hashing  rear, 
iicauld  the  Conqueror's  kingly  Car  appear  I 


Its  sculpt  11 


REFIN'ED     BEAUTY. 


sculptured  wheels  adorned  with  glittering  gold, 
In  triumph  once  for  Gothic   Kings   had  roll'd ! 
High  on  its  sparkling  scat  the  victor  shone, 
In  pomp  elate,  conspicuous  and  alone  ! 
Four  antler-crowned   Stags  with  frontlets   high, 
To  harness  trained  beneath  the  Emperor's  eye, 
In  stately  elegance  his  chariot  drew, 
And   srmff'd    with  nostrils  spread  the  odorous  dew; 
Gazed  wondering  on  the  unwonted   croud, 
And  wildly  hearkened  to  its  plaudits  loud  : 
With  animation  listened  to  the  music's  strains, 
And   pranced   responsive  to  the  gingling  chains. 
Proud  Statesmen  next  in  flowing  purple  stoled, 
Illumed  with   bhizing  gems  and  stars  of  gold  ; 
With  haughty  S.\r  in  the  slow  march  advance, 
Oft  throwing  o'er  the  Chief  an  envious    ^hu.cc. 
To  them  pronr.sr.uous  multitudes  succeed, 
And   give  the  Conqueror  his  deserved   meed; 
The  Castle-towers  with  acclamations  shake, 
And   make  tlie   rnarble-piHar'fl  temples  quake  ; 
Their  shii  ing  bcsveis  circled  through  the  air, 
While  maids  and  matrons  joined  the  rapturous  cheer. 
The  mighty  legions  now  in  marshalled  rows, 
The  prfat  magnificent  procession  close  : 
Like  some  broad  sea  beneath  red  westering   Sol, 
Whose  sun-top'd  waves  in  sha  ie  and  splendor  roll ; 
The  armor-gleaming  columns  dark  and  bright, 
Slow   moved  \viih  measured  step  and  crests  upright ; 
3 


246  YIRTUOUS     AND 


All  cap-a-pee  in  warlike  metal    maii'd, 

As  when  their  strength  the  embattled  foe  assailed. 

Their  battered,  blood-died   breast-plates,  trench'd  with 

Evinced  their  valor  in  the  field  of  Mars  ;        [scars, 

Their  brazen  bucklers'  dimly   gleaming  beams, 

Sword-sculptured  dints,  and  javelin-furrowed  seams, 

Their  veteran-visaged  helms,  and  gore-stained-plumes, 

Told  that  their  arms  had  furnished  food   for  tombs  I 

Steel-pointed  pilums  lofty,  ponderous,   bright, 

Tip'd  with  the  ascending  Sun's  quick-glancing  light, 

High  o'er  their  towering  crested  helmets   spire, 

And  flash  in  air  like  streams  of  vivid  fire. 

Long  silver-co-ver'd  pikes  aloft  in  air, 

The  Empire's  golden-pictured  Eagles  bear ; 

Aurelian's  rich  embellished  image  too, 

In  graphic  elegance  waves  high  to  view  ; 

And  consecrated  portraits  drawn  in  gold, 

For  Chiefs  whose  Cars  o'er  conquered  realms  had  roll'd; 

For  Claudius,  Caesar,  and  Augustus  !  names, 

Enduring  as  the  Danube  or  the  Thames ; 

In  awful  pomp  on  floating  canvass  blazed. 

Strewn  round,  the  Emblems  of  proud  Empires  razed, 

With  Painture's  potent  eloquence  proclaimed, 

How  alpine  Kingdoms  fell  and  cities  flamed  ; 

How  Temples,  Castles,  Palaces,  and    Thrones, 

Defiled  with  floods  of  blood  and  wrecks  of  bones, 

In   ruin  round  the  carnagecl   globe  were    spread, 

And  piled  o'er  armies  slain  and  princes  dead  ; 

As  those  tremendous  Victors  swiftly   hurled 


KEFINED    BEAUTY. 


eir  sweeping  devastations  through  the  world. 

To  crown  the  splendors  of  the  august  display, 
Magnific  spoils  enrich'd  the  grand   array ; 
Each  conquered   region's  captured  banner  waved 
To  mark  its  former  Chieftain  now  enslaved. 
There  Monarchs'  crowns  and  vanquish'd     Warriors' 
The  arms  and  regal  ensigns  of  fallen  realms;     [helms, 
There  Asia's  wealth  in  bright  profusion  shone, 
And  poured  a  blaze  ere  then  to  Rome  unknown. 
Here  in  sublime  disorder,  mingled  dies 
Of  various-tinted  diamonds  dim  the  eyes  ; 
There  in  methodic  symmetry  disposed, 
Bright  tons  of  golden  plate  their  flames  disclosed. 
Arranged  amid  the  various  spoils  were  seen, 
The  sumptuous  vestments  of  the  Syrian  Queen ; 
Rich  flowing  silks  the  pride  of  Eastern  looms, 
Resplendent  coiffures  deck'd  with  gorgeous  plumes; 
Embroidered    cambrics,   finely  figured  lawn, 
On  which  each  flower  that  scents  the  summer's  dawn. 
In  variegated  imitation  blows, 
And  o'er  the  woof  its  mimic  radiance    throws. 
Deep-crimsoned  robes  with  snowy  ermine  edged, 
Like  plumes  with  which  the  bright  Flamingo's  fledged,, 
Efl'used  around  their  richly  flaming   rays, 
And  seemed  consuming  in  a  scarlet  blaze. 

As,  through  the  assembled  legions  of  that  day, 
Aurelian's  pomp  revealed  its  bright  display  ; 
So,  tempest-conquering  Sol,  his  victory  o'er, 
And  Winter's  warring  wiur hviutis  erased,  to 


248 


Superbly  blazing  in  triumphal  state, 
Throws  widely  ope  the  oriental  gate  ; 
Ascends  with  rrfajesty  the  throne  of  Spring, 
While  hills  with  songs  resound  and  forests  ring  ; 
And  from  the  zenith  of  successful  pride, 
Diffuses  o'er  the  world  his  splendid  tide  ; 
Wakes  gladness  'mong  the  votaries  of  his  reign, 
And  hears  his  praise  proclaimed  o'er  land  and  main  ! 

Whence  all  this  proud  exuberence  of  shew? 
Was  it  to  laud  .Zenobia's  overthrow  ? 
Oh  surely  not ;  it  was  to    celebrate 
The  achievements  which  reduced   her  royal  state 
The  valor,  skill,  and  Kingdom-conquering  might, 
.Which  sealed  Aurelian's  glory  in  the   fight  ; 
Which  nalhless  her  high  power-controlling  charms, 
Her  Prudence,  Wisdom,  Genius  and  proud  Arms, 
Triumphant  bore  her  opposition  down, 
Demolished  her  bright  throne  and  siczcd  her  ciown! — 
What  eminent  eulosi-lum  on  her  r.-ime, 
That  an  illustrious   Emperor  draws  his  fame, 
His  highest  fame  from  an  ascendant    power, 
His  Hosts  gained  o'er  het   in  a  prosperous  hour  ! 

But  yet  unsung  the  strongest  proof  remains, 
Of  her  high  influence.     For  when  waj/d  with  chains, 
And  led  on  foot  before  the  Monarch's  Car, 
Mid  Conquest's  vocal  hum  and   mtling  jar; 
A  melai.choly  Captive  drooping,  taint, 
Sublimely  sorrowing,  without   groan  or  plain 
Her  languid  loveluicss  and  beaming  grace, 


JTY.  249 


>ier  half-concealed  soul-expressive  face, 
Her  humbled  majesty  and  withering  pride, 
Attracting  every  eye ;  she  cast  a  cloud, 
O'er  the  high  spirits  of  the  splendid  croud  ; 
With  softening  sympathy's  vibrations  shook, 
Their  hearts'  stern  nerves  and  gloomed  their  gaybome 
With  pitying  admiration  and  respect,  [look ; 

Their  bosoms  swell'd,  and   cheeks  with  tears  bedcck'd. 
Beneath  the  tender  shower  and  woe-shed  damp, 
The  flame  was  dim'd  in  Victory's  golden  lamp  ; 
The  sparkling  drops  that  trickled  from  her  eyes, 
Half  drown'd  the  Conqueror's  pomp-displaying   dies, 
And  vanquish'd   Empire  secm'd  temptation  small, 
1  or  which  to  doom  bo  great  a  Queen  to  fall  ! 

But  when  the  pomp  rose  through  the  imperial  dome. 
Still  tenderer  throbs  shook  the  proud  pulse  of  Rome  J 
*Twas  P.ty's  impulse  at  the  expected  fate, 
Which  seemed  the  unhappy  Princess  to  await. 
1  or  by  the  practice  of  Aurelian's    time, 
To  pui.ibh  Usurpation's  dating  crime, 
The  Vector's  vengeance,  fraught  with  cruel  pride, 
Poured  not  at  once  its  anger-flaming  tide  ; 
Lut  first  its  scalding,  scorn-imbitter'd   rills, 
5*. low  o'er  the  victim's  naked  head  distils; 
Tacn  from  the  summit  of  triumphal  power, 
T'iC  sounding  Capitol's  stupendous  tower  I 
Us  wrathful  floods  precipitately  sweep, 
A ii<!   whelm  the  Capt'-ve  in  the  eternal  dcrpi 
inch  was  the  frightful  fate  Zcnobia  feui'dj 


250  VIRTUOUS    AND 

But  e'en   Aurelian's  heart  was  not  so  seared, 

So  dead  to  the  fine  feelings  of  the   soul, 

As  to  disclaim  her  charms'  divine  control. 

Ti:c  iiiipcrial  Fabric's  crimson  throne  was   gained, 

Anticipated  death  her  life-strings  pained, 

Commiserating  thousands  wept  around, 

At  every  breath  expecting  the  dread  sound, 

The  annunciation  of  the  dire  decree, 

Which  was  to  doom  her  to  Eternity ! 

Before  the  throne  the  Conqueror  bade  her  stand, 

And  frowning  as  to  give  the    death-command, 

Announced  her  pardon  !  ai)d  with  royal   tone 

Bade  her  respect  his  laws  and  sovereign  throne  ; 

Directed  manumission  from  her  chains, 

And  granted  her  the   I>RIDE  of  his  domains; 

A  sweetly-blooming,  sylvan   paradise, 

Perfumed  by  gales  impregn'd  with   odorous  spice; 

A  lovely  Vilia  where  the  honored  Queen, 

Reposed  through  lite   upon   a  flowery   green! — 

In  modern  tonics  of  Poesy  divinv, 
And   History  sage  the  powers  oi   Beauty  shine: 
A   cluster  consecrate  to  Virtue's  cause, 
Of  Female  names,  e'en  now  demand  applause, 
E'en   now  applause  receive  ;  e'en  now   illume, 
With    Wisdom's  beums  the  deeps  of  mental   gloom. 
A  Carter,  Seward,   Williams  and  a  More, 
Adorn-  the    world  with  Learning's  splendid   lore. 
Shall  not  Columbia's  charming  flowerets   vie 
With  those   that  bioom  beneath    Britannia's  sky? 


REFINKD    BEAUTY. 


icy  shall.     Already  their  rich  petals    spread, 
And  o'er  the'  land  a  dulcet  fragrance  shed  ; 
Soon  will  their  spirit-breathing  beauties  flush 
Columbia's  cheek  with  Science*  sweetest  blush. 
Shall  riot  Virginia's  lovely   Daughters  share, 
Coequal  fame  with  Freedom's  worthiest  Fair  ? 
Ti.ey  shall:  for  lo  1  where  yon  Coliegial  ground, 
With  the  Anne  Smith    Academy  is  crowned  ; 
A   pledge  is  seen  that  Erudition's  power, 
Shall  here  exalt  the  charms  of  Beauty's  Bower. 
Ye  friends  of  Liberty  and  virtuous  LAWS, 
Of  Science,  and  Religion's  sacred  cause  ; 
Who  feel  wiuit  sway  the  female  soul  refined, 
Can  exercise  o'er  the  great  PUBLIC   MIND  ; 
Extend  a  free,  a  kind  supporting    hand, 
To  that  sublimest  f.ibric  of  our  land  ; 
Its  generous  Founders'  grand  exertions    aid, 
And  rear  yourselves  a  name  that  ne'er  shall  fade. 
Ye  Fathers,   Mothers,  Guardians  of  the  Fair, 
Oh  make  their  minda^  their  deathless  minds  your  care  ! 
Give  them  to  improve,  to  polish  and   enlarge, 
Beneath  that  Institution's  nurturing  charge. 
On  Beauty's  cheek,  there  a  salubrious  clime 
Implants  a  rose  that  braves  the  blasts  of  Time : 
There  scenery  sweet,  magnificent  and  gay, 
Controls  the  feelings  with  benignest  sway ; 
And  social  manners  there  refined  and    pure, 
Those  charms  impart  which  e'en  through  life  endure. 
There  HYBKRT,  Literature's  fair  Handmaid    weaves, 


25"  VIRTUOUS    AND    REFINED  BEAUTT. 

Intwined  with  odorous  Vinue's  virent  leaves, 

Perennial  garlands  for  each  Vestal's  brows, 

Who  in  her  academial  Temple  bows. 

With  transport  the  predictive  Muse    divines, 

That  from  that  Temple's  scientific  shrines, 

Its  Votaries  will  in  trains  sue  essive    rise, 

For  life  prepared,  and  blooming  for  the  skies  ; 

Exhibiting  to  Man's  admiring  mind, 

The  powers   of  BEAUTY  VIRTUOUS  AND  REFINEB. 


ERRATA. 

A  few  typographical  errors  may  be  discerned,  which 
escaped  notice,  in  the  progress  of  the  work  through  the 
Press  :  the  following  only,  it  is  believed,  affi  ct  rhc  sense. 
On  page  44,  line  882 — when  should  be  read  whom.  On 
fiage  78,  line  754 — the  name  Edwin  should  be  Melville, 
and  the  same  alteration  is  necessary,  page  79,  line  786 
On  page  91  ;  line  183 — in  nome  copies,  midnight  should 
be  changed  to  midway. 


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